Vatican Scavi

Today is a quiet day of reflection for the group and well do we and I need it. I have had three days of lectures in the past week and in between that we have visited various sites around Rome. This coming week we have mostly lectures on the Rule of Benedict from two German sisters: Sr Aquinata and Sr Manuela so in the coming week I’ll try to describe some of the places we have been to.
Beginning with yesterday. We went to the ‘Scavi” the excavations under St Peter’s which I think is a superb tour. We had a seminarian from Mobile, Alabama as our English speaking guide. He knew his stuff very thoroughly and built up the story about the discovery of what are believed to be the bones of Peter as we were guided through the Roman necropolis, under the floor of the 6th century basilica built by Constantine. He wove the ancient historical story into the 20th century story of the excavations, complete with all the interesting details – like the fact that the excavations that took place during the German occupation of WWII were done at night without power tools and the dirt brought up was conveniently incorporated into the Vatican Gardens which were redone at that time. The fear was that the Nazis would find out about what was happening and take anything found back to Germany. As I have said before on this blog, I am very impressed with the blend of modern technology and ancient excavation under St Peter’s. You are walking through a Roman graveyard, going through hi-tech Perspex doors, into places where the temperature and humidity are carefully controlled. I would strongly recommend this tour to anyone going to Rome but you do have to book months ahead – the numbers are limited to control the temperature and humidity. There are guides available in English – you state what language you want the tour in. In addition you get to speak officially to the Swiss guards and go into the Vatican proper. Since last year they have begun a cleaning the buildings and it is quite a contrast between the dirty and the new. The colonnades are also being cleaned but the change is not so apparent.
When we went to the North American “Seminary’ when we first came, Sr Susan took this photo of Marcia, Karen and I. I include it so you know what the people I’m working with look like.