My Angelicum Friends

 One of the best aspects of studying theology at the Angelicum is getting to know my classmates. They are seminarians, nuns, monks, religious and laity from all over the world. Sr. Marie Linn, Sr. Lucy, and Sr. Therese are from a congregation in Vietnam. These women are the chosen few who get to go to Rome to study. They will return and teach a generation of sisters, teachers and formation instructors back home. 

Another group I love are the Brothers of Divine Charity. They serve the poorest of the poor around the world. Josamir was my first friend from this group. We sat next to each other in our course on Grace among others and got through a year of studies together. Now I am friends with his confreres Etienne and Gilbert (both from French-speaking Africa), Francisco and now Jorge. They have invited my family to a play they are putting on in a couple of weeks. The cast includes monks as well as the homeless people they serve. I love it! 

Simon is one of the most joyful people I've ever met. Regan is humble and kind. All in all, I am a much better person for having met these saints-in-the-making, They are all people who have dedicated their lives to God in the most radical way they knew how. I am blessed by their witness, the intensity of their faith, their courage and perseverance. I aspire to be as holy as they some day. 

It's Settled

Annie is the reason we went to Vienna. She wants to look into the University of Vienna for her college years, and living in Vienna some day is a main motivator for her to learn German right now in middle school. It positively amazes me that her seventh grade is in German and Italian, and that she is doing so well. She often does better than the majority of her classmates on tests and assignments, even the ones in German! She has been studying it for 8 months, while many of them have been studying in German at this school since Kindergarten. Way to go, Annie! 

As she and I explored the city center on the first day of our trip, she "Ooooo!"-ed and "Aaaaaaaah!"-ed the whole way through. Finally she announced, "It's settled. I am going to live here someday." 

Every day, Annie and I walked past the College of Applied Arts, where she recognized Athena Parthenos and explained all the imagery to me, including the Nike in Athena's hand, the rod and the owl. 

Annie, Sebo, Clare and I had enormous Wiener Schnitzels, and the penny dropped for Annie when she realized the "Wiener" means "Viennese." Meanwhile, Clare went nuts over the rolls. I think Clare had two plates of goulash and as many rolls as they'd serve us. Hilarious. 

Their version of frizzante or sparkling water is "prickelnd." That seemed so funny to us. Prickly water.

A couple asked us to take their picture. Annie understood their German and answered back in German without hesitation. When they walked away, she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, "I can speak German!" It was one of those moments for both of us that you wouldn't give anything for. 

Here is Annie doing an impersonation of one of the really sweet girls in her class. Super cute. Annie gave me a lengthy description of her classmates, whom on the whole she adores. I also set out to memorize the names of all her teachers and what subjects they teach. She has more teachers than the average 7th grader, because many of her subjects she has in both German and again in Italian, with different teachers. While Italian schools get out around 1:45pm, Annie gets out at 4:05pm. She is in an intense prep school and she really pays the price. It's a lot of work. I am very proud of her! What a smartie! 

Isn't Annie awesome? Yes. It's settled. 

Hundertwasser

It was an incredible unlikelihood that cannot be coincidence that when we traveled to Vienna we rented a flat that was across the street from the Hundertwasser Museum and Village, given that Sebastian had just studied Hundertwasser in school. Sebastian introduced me to this modern Viennese artist and showed me Sebastian's favorite paintings, which were all hanging in this gem of a museum. 

Our mini-spring break trip to Vienna was paradisiacal. We ate apfelstrudel, went to the opera, breathed the Austrian air and walked on pristine streets. I planted myself at the Cathedral of St. Stephen and studied the architecture and sculpture with the help of a book for many hours. I am not sure which knocks me off my feet more, the interior (with its lacy Gothic pointed arches) or the exterior (Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements can all be detected). 

After hours alone at the cathedral (while Ron took the kids to the zoo), Ron met me for a date in the old town. It was a magical day and my Viennese blood was re-oxygenated. Friendly reminder: I am not Italian! It is astonishing how disconnected these two lines are, the Austrian-Germanic and the Italian. There is virtually no point of intersection. While the EU connects Austria and Italy and that gives the impression that they are kin to one another, they are not. It is helpful for me to remember that appearances can be deceptive, so that I do not feel so crazy when in Rome. I am not Italian, and that's okay! God bless Italy. And God bless Austria. 

Blessed by the old and new

 Ron blesses me more than I can say! We had a wonderful day in Rome celebrating his birthday. 

Re-living the OLD: We went to our old favorites--the tie and pocket square shop on Campo Marzio (our kids have spent HOURS in there over the years! We know the owners!); the paper/art/fountain pen shop off Piazza di Spagna (a family favorite since our first summer here in 2011); the pizza restaurant across from the art shop where 7-year-old Clare "sniffed out" the anchovies on the Pizza Napoli that Ron accidentally ordered. Now we order spritzes and take IG photos!

Enjoying the NEW: We discovered an authentic Mexican restaurant in Rome! Casa Sanchez. Although they serve food on plates that my grandmother would call "dinner roll plates" (meaning they are very small!) and although every TINY plate of food was VERY EXPENSIVE, we basked in the authentic Mexican fare. They served salsa in bowls a little larger than thimbles. We enjoyed every *drop*! An "only once-a-year" treat!

Happy birthday, Ron!

To be Divine

     "God became man so that we might become God." St. Athanasius summed up Christianity in this short sentence. 

      I ask myself: 

• Do I really live this way, aware of my status as a member of the family of God? 
• Am I as generous as God, pouring himself out in total humility for the sake of others? 
• Am I willing to be misunderstood, as Christ was misunderstood? Ridiculed? Rejected? Disapproved of? Mocked for the sake of the Kingdom of God? 

    I have an uneasy feeling that I am nowhere near where God wants me to be in taking in and living out this calling, the call to divination. It's a tall order. 

Mardi Gras--Carnivale

 Annie and Leigh went to school dressed up for Mardi Gras--Carnivale: Leigh in 70's style and Annie as Disney's Anastasia. Annie wrote a rap for her friend Martina (how cool is that?) and Leigh won (unofficial) best costume. 

American flag sunglasses and hoop earrings

I spent the day making shrimp etoufée and king cake. Both were very involved recipes, both took all day (8 hours or more per recipe), and both turned out great! Helped assuage my homesickness. Being an adopted New Orleanian is one of my points of pride. 

Sha!

Aphorism by Ron Rombs

 Daily life with Ron is such a wonder. Today's passing comment that is worthy of the status of an aphorism is: 

"There is nothing like working your way through Athanasius and Arius to re-calibrate what you think it is to be a Christian." 

Firenze

 We had such a wonderful time in Florence!

Ponte Vecchio at night

Botticelli

Filippo Lippi

Fra Angelico

Our resident photographer

I learned how to use a Moka pot--Desperation leads to discovery (and the coffee was GOOD)

 

Clare in the Piazza della Signoria

Annie got a haircut

Dave gave Sebastian a prize for winning their tic-tac-toe competition

Fun with Aunt Swanee and Dave

Asleep on the way home--played too hard

10 Things I Love about Sebastian

1. As soon as Sebastian meets a child, he tries to make them laugh. Sebastian falls to the ground and pretends that the child killed him. The child is laughing within 30 seconds of meeting him. Children LOVE Sebastian. 

2. He is such a good friend. He makes his friends feel very loved. He is loyal and never tells their secrets to other people. 

3. His very best friend is Charlie, our Golden Labrador. When we lost Charlie and Sebastian and I both went into an open field and called his name, Charlie went running to Sebastian. They have a special bond. 

4. Sebastian loves the poor. We have never walked past a person begging on the street without Sebastian asking to give money to that person. Sebastian does chores at home so that he can have enough money to give them. He always tells me that his heart breaks for them.  

5. Sebastian loves God. He prays, listens to God's voice, and is very close to Him. He often cries during his prayers, saying he just loves God so much. He says he wants to be a priest so he can give his life to God and the poor. 

6. Sebastian is a great athlete. I love watching Sebastian play soccer. He is a fast runner and great with the ball. 

7. He wants to obey and please his parents, teachers, and all his authorities. He works so hard to try to do the right thing. 

8. I love that one time, Sebastian beat me at chess. It was only once, and I was a bit distracted. But he still beat me fair and square. He is so good at the game, anticipating future moves a few turns out. At 8 years old, that's pretty darn good. I love how he swings the pieces on the board, so nonchalantly, and then the move turns out to be killer smart. 

9. Sebastian love me and we are so close. Whenever he sees me in the morning, he greets me with a huge hug and cries, "Mommmmmmm!" as though we have not seen each other in ages. I love being with him. 

10. I love how playful and energetic he is. For example, he was a superstar in the disco number in the school Winter Show. He jumped higher and boogied wilder than anyone on stage. Dressed in a gold sequin jumpsuit, he really stole the show. He is also a mean sword fighter, winning most of his battles. 

Poor Little Sebo!

 Golly, poor little guy. He is out of school for the following symptoms: hyperventilation, panic, intense, irrational fears, muscle fatigue, sore throat… and even spots! He has strange spots on his face! What else could the little cherub sustain?! Oh, I know. the need for 2 root canals! 

    I took him to no less than 3 doctors yesterday. He handled the root canals well. Poor guy. When it rains, it pours. 

    He WILL be okay. He laughs, plays, and still loves chocolate and his dog, Charlie. 

    Praying for you, Sebastian!!! 

Party in the Castelli

Gorgeous girl! 

 

World Religions

I completed my course on World Religions today. I truly learned so much. 

1. Did you know that Hinduism was non-theistic for the first centuries of its existence? The Vedic Tradition essentially a non-theistic religion/practice/outlook/way of life. It had no organization, no doctrine, no hierarchy, no concept of God. The second era of Hinduism introduced the Brahman priests, but Hinduism was still atheistic (amazing, right!?). Then finally deities were introduced (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, plus their wives and cohorts, etc.). I just find it amazing that these deities are non-essential to Hinduism. (It makes me like it better.) 
2. Did you know that when Buddhism spread through China and Japan, the people retained their local religions, and added Buddhism as another element in their religious life? That means that Buddhism is well-suited to be a viewpoint and way of life that is an additive to one's faith, but not a substitute for it. While Buddhism can be a religion in the proper sense, it does not violate it to "adjust" it so that it is compatible with one's faith. (By contrast, I cannot imagine "dialing back" Christianity so that it would be compatible with Buddhism. . . it would no longer be Christianity). 
3. Generally speaking, Islam does not tolerate music in religious rituals. But the Sufis branched off, pursuing a mystical and musical way of life. Then from the Turkish Sufis came Whirling Dervishes, that spin and dance in order to imitate the spinning stars and planets, as a form of worship of God who created the universe.