Eugene shares his reactions to the beauty of the Basilica of St Mary Major, and the activities that took place in it.<\/p>\n
\nReturning to my monastery, I couldn\u2019t resist the impulse of going into the basilica of Saint Mary Major again. I roamed through it for half an hour without dwelling on any particular object precisely. I enjoyed the beauty of this building<\/strong><\/h5>\n
and, as I was going about, I was greatly edified by the great number of zealous pilgrims crowded around the penitential tribunals where the Dominican Fathers, seated in those spacious confessionals, listened charitably to them, and from time to time, extended the long cane fixed in front of them, like a pavilion standard, to touch the head or shoulders of those who knelt before them for this very purpose.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The entire sight both edified and touched me. I stopped to ponder it for some time. It was noon. All these good people had been fasting till then, since they were going to devoutly receive Holy Communion to gain the jubilee indulgence after they left the confessional.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Roman Diary, 30 November 1825, EO XVII<\/em><\/p>\n
Two days later we find him drawn to the same place again:<\/p>\n
\nWhile passing once again in front of Saint Mary Major, I entered it for the fourth time and stayed there more than an hour. I will not attempt to describe all that a person sees in these large basilicas which would be too long and incomplete…<\/strong><\/h5>\n
It is impossible to go into detail about the beauty of the main altar and the two large side chapels. I have never seen such beautiful marble forms as those which adorn the Blessed Virgin\u2019s chapel; the eye could never have its fill of them.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Roman Diary, 2 December 1825, EO XVII<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNever lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.\u201d Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene shares his reactions to the beauty of the Basilica of St Mary Major, and the activities that took place in it. Returning to my monastery, I couldn\u2019t resist the impulse of going into the basilica of Saint Mary Major … Continue reading