Reflections by: Jonah Kwek, Eden Leow, Ashwin Pandiyan, Aaron Dharanan Davar
Today marks the start of Sequela Christi 2021! ‘Sequela Christi’ directly translates into: following (in the footsteps of) Christ. St. Francis was one who greatly imitated Christ (Imitatio Christi), conforming to Him not just internally but externally as well (in receiving the stigmata of Christ). As we follow in St. Francis’ life and the other saints who walked before us, we look forward to a deeply spiritual and intimate journey of reflection and self-discovery, finding the same Gospel humility and joy that St. Francis deeply conformed to.
Our journey took us from Singapore, passing through Copenhagen, and then finally arriving in Rome! Though the flight was long, many of us were waiting in anticipation to touch down, to see new sceneries and begin our pilgrimage. We were hustled onto a bus and our first destination was to our hotel titled “Il Cantico” that looked extremely cozy. Several of us were starving at this point, and we headed to the restaurant for lunch where we were served a simple but comforting meal; chickpea soup for our appetiser, pork and potatoes for our mains, and fruits for our dessert!
St Peter’s Basilica
Our first stop was to St Peter’s Basilica. It is one of the largest churches in the world, covering an area of 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres). It was originally built in the 4th century by the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, but was rebuilt 10 years later, spearheaded by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II and completed on 18 November 1626. It is also the site where all major Papal functions and events are conducted due to its sheer size and importance.
The Basilica is also the burial site of St. Peter, Jesus’s apostle and the first Bishop of Rome. His tomb is directly below the high altar of the basilica, also known as the Altar of the Confession. It also houses the chair of St Peter, a relic of historical significance as it gives spiritual direction to the Pope. Apart from St Peter, 90 other popes are buried here, such as St. John Paul II and Pope Paul VI.
Perhaps it was the tiredness of over half a day of flying or the sheer incredulity of coming face to face with heroes of the faith, nay, my heroes of the faith, but I could not process emotion or thought, standing in front of the remains of St Peter and St John Paul II. Staring at the little box which now held all that was left on this earth of the giant of the faith that was St Peter was by far the most intimate interaction with 2000 years of church history I’ve ever had. I have never quite related to a saint like I do with him. His propensity to falter despite his genuine desire to do good was something I related to greatly. Gazing on St Peter’s ‘box’, all I could think of was how I could be living better, doing more, being more like him. And as I allowed myself to wallow in momentary self-condemnation, it was as if the first pope himself was smiling at me, reminding me that it wasn’t despair but rather hope that would lead me to heaven.
St. John Paul II is attributed with having said one of my personal favourite quotes: “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you”. Praying in front of his remains with the other pilgrims, I couldn’t help but marvel at how a quote spoken so long before my coming to the faith could articulate my story so simply yet beautifully. I talked to him about my hopes and dreams for the youth of Singapore, for the church as a whole, my confusion with vocation and asked him to pray for me. I may have never known him personally but there’s one thing that we share. Both of us know that Jesus is the happiness we’re all looking for and I left St Peter’s Basilica knowing that there was at least one other Saint in heaven praying for the youths in Singapore.
OFM Curia
The last stop that we had for the day was the OFM Curia, just a short walking distance away from Vatican City. This was where we were scheduled to have Mass at 5pm, and Friar John Wong welcomed us warmly into the chapel as soon as we arrived. While comparatively smaller and less elaborate than St Peter’s Basilica, it was still an impressive sight to behold with intricate murals and symbolisms etched at every corner of the chapel. Friar John Paul led the Mass together with the other Friars, and gave a homily focusing on the last part of today’s Gospel, where “happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.” Bringing it back to us, Friar John Paul acknowledged the struggles of maintaining our faith especially during moments of trial and tribulation. St. Francis also had many “in-transit” moments in his life as well, such as when he discerned whether to become a knight or to live out God’s call to the fullest. As we are “in-transit” at many points in our lives as well, it is a call for us to discern in the same way that St. Francis did. Friar John Paul also made us reevaluate the deeper and spiritual significance of this trip. Was it merely an excuse to escape the harsh realities of the world? Or was it an opportunity to grow and nurture the gift of faith that has been given to us in abundance? As he brought us through the historical significance of the chapel, and its building prior to the world war, it was then that I realised that in moments of adversity, it is all the more imperative that we do not lose faith, but have patience, continuing to glorify God in our small ways. This can be done by acknowledging His beautiful works around us that serve as an important reminder that the Lord is working even when we lack the vision to see it, calling us to see not with our physical eyes, but through our spiritual eyes, through the lens of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, after much walking, we headed back to the hotel for dinner. Waiting anxiously for our food, the smell of pasta wafted through the air, tantalising our taste buds. We were served Amatriciana pasta, one of the 4 classic Roman pastas. It consisted of guanciale (cured pork cheek), tomato, topped with pecorino cheese, which led to a burst of flavour in our mouths. The pasta was also perfectly al dente – what a treat! We were then served chicken breast with french beans for our mains, and ended off our meal on a sweet note, with an egg custard. What a way to end off our first day – great food, great company and most importantly, Christ in the centre!
As this day draws to a close, we are reminded of the many people who have passed on and held the faith – the Apostles, the Saints, the Martyrs, the Popes… We were also introduced to the life of St. Francis, and are truly amazed at his humility and conformity to Christ, which drew so many to him. In the coming days, we will be getting to know St. Francis and St. Clare much better, appreciating how God has worked in their lives, and ultimately how we can adopt the very same Gospel humility in our lives. Truly, sine proprio, with nothing of our own, are we then able to love the same way that Christ did, and the way that St. Francis loved Christ, His Blessed Mother, and those around him – the leper, the beggar, the oppressed.
