Thoughts on Our Return From Rome

(Saint's Peter's basilica with the Chair of Peter in the distance)

Our pilgrimage to the shrines of Italy is over. What an amazing experience. Words just can't describe what we experienced but I will try to post some thoughts in the upcoming days as I process what we saw and did.
   When I first walked into Saint Peter's basilica hand-in- hand with Deborah, we were both speechless. We also entered through a side door, rather than the main entrance. Even this had a special meaning for me since I had left this Church shaking the dust off my sneakers so many years ago. I felt it was symbolic to enter in a side entrance vs. the main entrance as most pilgrims do, since I am like an 11th hour worker  (Matt. 20:6). I at times feel unworthy but incredibly
thankful for God's mercy in forgiving me and pouring out his grace, despite so many years being opposed to the Church Jesus started.  Then I began to weep. I can't explain why  but was overwhelmed by the sense that we had finally come to the heart of the Church where so many saints had walked and so many sinners had become saints. The first thing our group did was to celebrate mass
and I received Christ in the Eucharist a few hundred feet from where the bones of Peter are laid.
   More to come.....