Epiphany in Roma

The word "Epiphany" means "manifestation." The Church in the Mass commemorates a triple manifestation of Christ: to the Magi, that is, to the Gentiles; in His Baptism, when the Voice from heaven declared: "This is My Beloved Son"; and in the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana.

Sunday was the only day it rained, and unfortunately we had to walk quite a distance to get to San Gregorio for the Traditional Latin Mass. San Gregorio is a tiny church (more of a chapel, really), which is kind of falling apart. The Sanctuary seemed as big as the nave, and it was packed, with plenty of seminarians! After Mass we headed to the Pantheon (pictured below). Then we walked to the Jesuit churches of San Ignazio and the Church of Gesu. Both these churches contain masterpieces of illusion. Unfortunately, the lighting was poor and none of our pictures turned out.

On the way to San Ignazio we passed by Santa Maria sopra Minerva in front of which is a very cool Egyptian obelisk on top of an elephant. Inside is a sculpture of the risen Christ by Michelangelo which we were unable to see this time because the church was locked.

John's favorite photo from Gesu is a sculpture entitled Religion Triumphs over Heresy in which Religion personified thrashes a couple of heretics while a little boy rips out the pages of their heretical books. The Jesuits, of course, were instrumental in the Catholic Church's struggle against Protestantism in the 16th century and beyond. Of course, today they are more often themselves the heretics...