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The Floating City

Venice, Italy

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. Our first appointment of the day, ironically, was for a bunch of celibates to take a gondola ride through the romantic setting of this city. Naturally, we were all having a good bit of fun with the event as we sang the song Bella Notte from the movie “Lady and the Tramp” …well maybe I was the only one singing it.

Seminarians enjoying the gondola float

After this invigorating experience, we calmed ourselves down as we prepared to celebrate Mass in the crypt of San Marco’s Basilica. We were told that this crypt is one of the most ancient parts of the whole city and because it is technically underwater, it is usually too humid in the summertime for guests to visit comfortably. Following Mass, we were able to visit the Basilica which was rich with beautiful mosaics on almost every inch of the interior walls.

Fr. Kasule and Fr. Arturo celebrate Mass near the crypt of St. Mark

After lunch, we visited the Doge Palace where the Doge, or Duke, of Venice would reside under the former authority of the Republic of Venice. This palace, now a museum, was built in the 14th century. It is filled with robust frescos with contributions from many famous artists. As we roamed through the awe-inspiring rooms, I could not help but think about how important beauty is for the world. The main reason we visited this palace, and the fact that it is a tourist location, is because of its striking beauty which gave us a taste of the transcendent beauty of God.

After the tour, we returned to the hotel for dinner and fraternity time. I can honestly say that as this pilgrimage comes to an end, even though I am anticipating going home, this has been a fruitful journey with my brothers, with our fathers, with Saint Paul, and with the Holy Trinity. 

-Joshua White, Diocese of Joliet

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