As we wrap up our pilgrimage in Venice, we were given a free day to choose between taking the train to visit the basilica of St. Anthony in Padua or taking a slow day to roam in Venice.

After arriving just outside of Venice last night, we set out today to see The Floating City. The group set out after breakfast, taking a ferry across the Laguna Veneta to Venice Island.

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing ourselves for the coming of our King, Christ Jesus. This season’s liturgies use many of the writings from the prophets that reflect the deep yearning of the people of God for their long-awaited Messiah.

As we approach the beginning of our silent retreat, I am filled with great gratitude for all the experiences and people we have encountered along this journey. We have travelled through Turkey, a non-Christian land, following St. Paul in his various journeys and visits to the churches in the region.

In a city full of sacred buildings, some churches stand out with their beauty, and one of them is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which was the first on our schedule today because we wanted to celebrate the holy Mass there.

Throughout our pilgrimage, many of us have pondered what the end goal of such a journey would be for us. Most pilgrimages have a single destination; Lourdes, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, etc. But our road has led us across three countries and a dozen different holy sites.

I have always been drawn to the suffering Christ. Perhaps it is because in our suffering, He always draws nearer to us, never allowing a moment of it to pass without His presence. In our moments of pain and sorrow, Christ holds us more closely.

Finally, we arrived at the eternal city, Rome! As I settle into my new room for the next four days I recall our previous day of travel from Athens International Airport to the Fiumicino airport in Italy. Oddly enough, life’s transitions are often like a journey through an airport—filled with bustling crowds, moments of waiting, moments of uncertainty, and glimpses of something greater on the horizon.

As we were celebrating the Eucharist underneath a tree in the former town square of the ancient city of Corinth, a bell suddenly rang from an unseen building on a hill nearby. It sounded, well, alarming to say the least, since it went on for so long. Then a pause of silence.

Today we traveled through the city of Athens and visited the Parthenon and the Areopagus. The Parthenon is a visible representation of the glory of Athens, the cornerstone of philosophy with great figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all gazing upon this temple of Athena I gazed upon today. Athens is also known as the seedbed of western civilization.