Insights from Italy: Stay open for the Blessing (Pt. III)

One small portion of the ceiling at St. Peter's Cathedral. Note the dimensional nature as it is not a flat ceiling, but rather a dome. Vatican City, December 23, 2019.

Standing in front of the fountain in Piazza Navona, near the Sant'Agnese in Agone church. Rome, Italy. December 24, 2019.

Every square inch of St. Peter's Cathedral (as is virtually all churches and cathedrals we explored) is a work of art beyond measure. There is something about great works of art that keenly heighten my awareness and senses, and maybe that's a similar experience for everyone who sees them. Maybe that's what distinguishes masterpieces from other works--how they move us in our hearts, minds and bodies.

With the formal process of receiving our tickets behind us, we spent Christmas Eve day tooling around Rome and stopped at the Piazza Navona, in the midst of the highly popular annual Christmas festival. The large plaza was filled with festive booths and activities for the whole family, including a puppet show, a traditional carousel and carnival like games.

We ducked into a church near the piazza, the Chiesa Santa Maria Della Pace. (A 'chiesa' is a church and 'pace' means peace). Astounded yet again by the ornate and luxurious art contained within its walls, we learned then to never take for granted a bland exterior in Italy, because inside more often than not, treasures abound.

One of the cherished traditions of Christmas in Italy is the nativity scene, or precipe as it's called. These can be anything from a simple figure display of Mary and Joseph looking down on Jesus in a crib to highly complex scenes of life at the moment of Jesus' birth. Some intricate scenes include moving people and objects, like someone chopping wood, baking bread or spinning wool. Some include indoor and outdoor lighting, and we even saw one with running water.

During Christmastime, each chiesa, as well as most families, hosts some form of precipe. At the festival in Piazza Navona, dedicated stalls selling treasured handmade pieces were surrounded by curious families looking to add more people, buildings or activities to their cherished scene.

One of many different precipes we viewed. Rome, Italy. December 24, 2019.

Precipe (nativity scene) at the Chiesa Santa Maria Della Pace. Rome, Italy. December 24, 2019.

It was delightful to experience the warmth and tenderness of the families at this festival. It was clear this was a treasured time.

For the Christmas Eve mass, it was recommended we arrive two hours early, so we figured two and a half to ensure a seat inside the basilica. As evening approached, we found our way to the square. The lines were long and there was confusion over which line was for those with tickets to enter the basilica versus those attending the mass in the square. In either case, we all had to go through a security screening, which, knowing tens of thousands of us were attending, was a long process. We took the opportunity to meet those around us in line, grab a bite of pizza from a street vendor, shop for souvenirs and be approached by people, including nuns, looking for an extra ticket.

Whatever more blessings were on their way, I had already experienced blessings enough for many a lifetime, and in this, I felt blessed like no other time in my life.

Once in our seats, with an hour to spare, I spent most of the time  drinking it in. I really took to heart the idea of staying open to the blessing. With as much as we had already seen and the pace of trying to see as much as we could, it was really nice to just sit and look around, particularly in the spectacularness of St. Peter's.

I spent some time letting the mind catch up with things, as usually happens when I take a pause, and some time consciously taking in the fact that I had set out only a few months before to finally plan this journey and here I was sitting in the Vatican, of all places! Tears regularly welled up as the conscious realizations surfaced. I was already living the blessing!

We listened as the majestic sounds of the choir warming up echoed with incredible precision throughout the space. I thought of the interfaith ensemble I'm a part of and wanted so much to share this with them! I took a few pictures, but really I just stayed focused on being present with my awareness anchored in my body and the direct experience as it unfolded.

A selfie while standing in Line at St. Peter's Cathedral. It was hard to believe we were here! St. Peter's Cathedral, Vatican City. December 24, 2019.

Written in both Italian and English, the booklet handed out for the mass walked us through each liturgy and each song was presented with musical notes. Familiar carols, fragrances and passages filled the air as I followed along as best I could.

I decided earlier I would take of the wine traditionally offered during communion, as I wanted to partake as fully and genuinely with the ritual as I could. Given that I've been in recovery for 17 years, this was a huge decision! Thank goodness, when the time came and wine was not offered with the communion wafer, I knew the "power greater than myself" was taking care of me.

As the service approached conclusion, we were invited to bow down for the blessing. With earnest I did so as the following passage was recited:

May the God of infinite goodness, who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy night, drive far from you the darkness of vice and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.

May God, who willed that the great joy of his Son's saving Birth he announced to shepherds by the Angel, fill your minds with the gladness he gives and make you heralds of his Gospel.

And may God, who by the Incarnation brought together the earthly and heavenly realm, fill you with the gift of his peace and favour and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francesco, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Pictured here in front of St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. Photo taken from postcard.

Of course in the melodic Italian language it sounded so filled with love and good intentions. It was humbling to be one on whom the words and blessing landed. 

My heart was bursting as we finished the mass with Come All Ye Faithful.  We then watched the procession of Papa Francesca, the Cardinals and Priests as people began to filter out of the Basilica and into the square.

I was in no hurry to leave. I wanted to stay connected to the lingering resonance of the experience.

And this is what I love about mindfulness and intentional living--it deepens and refines the awareness of our direct experience so profoundly that our

experience can transcend words and concepts and we become aware of things on a different level--an energetic level, is the best I can convey it. Our attention gets so refined, we can 'hear' on a more subtle level, with our whole body. It's not that words and intention behind those words don't matter--quite the contrary--intention matters most, because it can be detected and experienced energetically, regardless of the words associated with it. Regardless of the language.

It also isn't to say that sounds don't affect us--music, intonation, rhythm in language--these too are crucially important because of the energy underlying them and the movement of space through time that sounds produces.

This is why each and every religious offering--Catholicism, other Christian traditions, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism--can touch us. It's the goodness within the intention. Some of my most profound spiritual experiences were participating in and listening to religious offerings in languages I didn't understand. Whether it was during the Sikh New Years kirtan in England or India, Hindu kirtan in India, evening chanting by monks in temples across Thailand, or attending Christmas Eve Midnight mass in Vancouver (and now Italy), thanks to mindfulness, I can experience the goodness of these traditions in my heart, transcending the barriers and limitations of language. I'm more in tune with the language of the soul as it passes through my body.

Even with all the misunderstandings and failings in practice in religions, there is a goodness within them. And that goodness depends not only on the intentions of those involved and their practice, it depends on my intentions in receiving and practicing their goodness. This night, I could experience that touch of goodness with tens of thousands of others who opened to and shared in that goodness as best they could.

Whatever more blessings were on their way, I had already experienced blessings enough for many a lifetime, and in this, I felt blessed like no other time in my life.

The crowds quietly dispersed into the cold late night Roman streets, like fog slowly filling a valley. Jim and I strolled back to our hotel, sharing our experiences and wonder. It was Christmas.

Christmas day? We spent it exploring the largest Jewish Temple in Rome and it's accompanying museum, indulging in a delectable sidewalk meal, and watched the newly released version of Pinnochio, featuring Roberto Benigni. And that experience led to yet another epiphany--one about family--that I'll share more about in the next post. In the meantime, with every good wish...

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JoAnn Saccato, MA, is a certified teacher with the Mindfulness Training Institute, life coach, author and consultant. She is the author of Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice and Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace Clarity and Freedom.

Mindfulness is an umbrella term used for a large body of popular health and wellness practices based on purposefully bringing a curious, kind and non-judgmental attention to moment by moment experience. It is a scientifically proven approach that helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, reduce relapses in addiction, and aids in sleep and digestive disorders. It has also been shown to increase well being, life satisfaction and happiness, as well as improved social relationships.

You can reach JoAnn at [email protected]. To follow her visit: www.MindfulAndIntentionalLiving.com