Lenten Churches, the Holy Land, and Pope Francis

I hope your Lent is off to a great start.

Let’s start with Pope Francis…

As you surely know, the pope has been in the hospital since February 14th. I encourage you to get your news and updates from official sources, or at least those who only quote official sources. Twice daily the Vatican releases a statement. Once around 8 a.m. Rome time and again around 7 p.m. Rome time. The morning update is usually something along the lines of “the pope rested well through the night.” The evening update is more thorough with plenty of medical terms and way more info than we need to know about someone in the hospital.

These official updates come out first through Vatican News (in Italian, but you can use the translate tool to get a general idea). A bit later the official Vatican News in English publishes their update. Here’s the instagram link for the Italian version.

The latest updates state that he is improving slowly, he is 88 years old with double pneumonia, after all. He has several breathing treatments each day. He was never on what most of us non-medical people would consider a ventilator, with intubation, but rather a mask to help get oxygen. He is often sitting in his chair. He’s been going to the hospital chapel. He’s eating solid foods. And he is now participating, via video, in the Vatican Curia Lenten Retreat.

For those who have been praying to rosary, which has been daily at 9 p.m. Rome time, this week the time is moved to 6 p.m. Rome time so that those on the Vatican retreat can pray the rosary at the end of their day.

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Now to the Holy Land…

I’m taking a group next month. There are 20 of us, almost all women, as is often the case. I cannot wait to get back. This trip is more or less full, but if you want to join, I can see about adding another room. Here’s the info.

I have another in June which will include Jordan. I do have some space available for that one. Here’s the info for the June pilgrimage.

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Lenten Churches…

A lot of you are enjoying my series on the Lenten Station Churches of Rome, and some of you are following along as part of your Lenten journey. So here are this week’s churches:

• Sunday – Saint John Lateran – the first legal church in the world

• Monday – San Pietro in Vincoli – featuring Michelangelo’s greatest work

• Tuesday – Sant’Anastasia – one of the very first churches in Rome, and with ties to Saint Jerome

• Wednesday – Saint Mary Major – the history behind why this church was built where snow fell in Rome, in August

• Thursday – San Lorenzo in Panisperna – this is where Saint Lawrence was grilled alive

• Friday – Santi Apostoli – two apostles are buried here, and so was Michelangelo, for a while

• Saturday – Saint Peter’s Basilica (Part 1) – a little history about why this church is built where it is

— Thanks for being here. 💜 Mountain