THE CITY OF ROME AS THE COMPENDIUM OF CHRISTIANITY

Eugene visited many churches in Rome and each one left him with a sense of wonder and admiration.

I am not resisting the desire to write to you and to date my epistle from the capital of the Christian world. This title is due to this beautiful city of Rome, not only because she is the seat of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, visible head of the Church, but also because she is, as it were, a Compendium of Christianity. It is only here, I believe, that they have understood how a dwelling should be built for God on earth. One has no idea of the magnificence of the churches found at every step. There are as many as five or six in the same place, each more beautiful, more rich, more imposing than the others.

One truly conceives how in heaven one shall never tire of praising God and of loving him while contemplating his infinite perfections, when one feels, at the sight of this beauty, work of feeble creatures, the sentiment of admiration grow without ceasing instead of becoming exhausted, when one would think one has reached one’s limit.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès in Aix, 6 December 1825, EO VI n 210