It really needs no words, but because I’m me, and I’ve been known to be wordy and even verbose, I’ll lay a few down here.

As a Catholic, the Vatican is the center of our world, the seat of our leadership and the place that epitomizes our faith and somehow, at least for me, makes me feel just a smidge closer to God. I reflect more, pray harder and feel everything so much more.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, it has been my Mom’s lifelong dream to see the Vatican, in all it’s gold and magnificence. It’s been 17 years since I visited it for the first time, and 25 years for Joe. Seeing it the second time around this visit, was like experiencing it new all over again. Watching the kids experience it was magical, their curiosity palpable, and their questions many. Here are just a few, to give you a flavor:

1. Why is Vatican City it’s own separate country?
2. Which is your favorite site at the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel or La Pieta?
3. Are the wax figures of the deceased Popes on display their real bodies?
4. Is the Devil really green (when looking at him in the Last Judgment on the wall of the Sistine Chapel)?
5. What is purgatory?

The Sistine Chapel

Honestly, while super old and no doubt contain historically significant works, the halls of the Vatican Museums are nothing compared to the crown jewel, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The entire first hour of the tour was building up to our entry into the Sistine Chapel. Once we entered, our tour guide secured us prime seats along the stone bench, and there we sat and gazed and pondered for nearly 30 minutes. All three kids didn’t know what hit them and were completely awestruck. They loved The Creation panel in the very center of the ceiling and we talked quite about about how the snake turns itself into the devil in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve take the apple. The primary focus, however, was on The Last Judgment, and what it represented. They have never seen heaven and hell visually depicted with Jesus as the final decision maker, Michelangelo made it all pretty clear for us. They saw angels blowing horns and welcoming people into heaven whilst demonic figures pulled others off of clouds down into hell where the Devil is directing traffic on a dark boat. They wondered,

Will I be on Jesus’ right hand or His left?

Will I go to down to Hell or up to Heaven?

What if I accidentally end up on His left hand side and go to Hell?

Even though we were instructed not to talk, we whispered respectfully and I did my very best to answer these questions, quelling any fears of hell with a life well lived, one full of kindness, service to others, compassion and humility. I imagine we’ll continue this conversation for years to come as they each develop their own relationship with God and our Catholic faith.

What I’ve loved more than anything on this trip, is having conversations beyond basketball statistics and playground gossip. We have talked about people and places of deep historical significance right where history happened and to see and experience it first hand.

St. Peter’s Basilica

I remember that the first time I visited I was overwhelmed by the amount of gold and the sheer size of the church. This time, I savored all of the details and spent time with them. Having become a mother since my last visit, I looked at La Pieta with a different lens, I felt the sorrow of Mary, but also bore witness to Michelangelo’s genius at the ripe young age of 21 when he created this masterpiece. I loved seeing my Mom take it all in, to rub St. Peter’s right foot for eternal protection and to see the light shining through Bernini’s Murano glass sun on the high altar over her shoulder. I’m so happy that we were all able to make this pilgrimage together and that my Mom made it to a place that she has dreamed of for so long.

It was beautiful and the experience in it’s entirety, way beyond these 500+ words.

****On a lighter note, we learned that Michelangelo was not only a sculptor, artist and architect, but also a fashion designer! Did you know that he designed the uniforms for the Swiss Guard too! Also did you know that Gus was a member of the Swiss Guard? Ha! And Wyatt looks pretty darn cool standing next to one!!