March 26th:  Scotti's Reflection

One day after returning from my Pilgrimage with Eileen to Italy.

I was originally accompanying Eileen on this "Pilgrimage"  just to enjoy being with her and not to interfere in the least with her "RN" experience.  Well it turns out, it was a Pilgrimage for me as well - truly an "RN"  experience for me.  I felt I had a strong faith in God, and for me a Pilgrimage wasn't necessary.  And I guess it wasn't really "necessary", but it was beautiful and reaffirming and awe-inspiring and ... no words really  express it.  What an affirmation of my faith it was to see over and over again in every place we went, every church, every museum, every town, the stories of our Lord and the saints being told over and over again down through every century since before and after his birth.  

People want proof of the existence of God. The proof is in the masterpieces of architecture, frescoes, marble statues, mosaic ceilings and floors, all telling the same stories over and over.  It is history being told by human beings who have gone before us.  It is real. It is God inspired.  It is tangible.  Even the peace enveloping us in the cathedrals as we prayed was tangible.   We could feel it all around us.  A 23 year old Michelangelo could not have carved the Pieta out of a block of marble without God guiding him and inspiring him.  Once again, no words to describe the feelings that washed over me and moved me to tears as I stood in front of this holy work in St. Peter's Basilica.

Over and over again we saw, no we experienced the stories told through miraculous art works inspired by God.  God making himself tangible through the the work of his children. I didn't need proof, but it was reaffirming over and over and over again. It deepened my faith and inspired me to work harder to be  "a channel of His peace".  For me, it truly turned out to be a Pilgrimage.  Praise God!  Amen!!