In 1965 (before Nana and Pepe adopted me!), Pepe was stationed aboard ship in Sigonella, Sicily (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Sigonella). He learned of an opportunity to take a flight to Rome and he jumped at the chance. While in Rome, he attended Catholic mass in the Vatican lead by Pope Paul XI. When I asked him how close he was to the Pope, he replied, "Well, it was just like attending church here...in a regular church. I was that close. As they carried Pope Paul down the aisle after mass, I tried to reach out to touch him, but I wasn't able to. Everyone was trying to touch his cloak."
Pepe then took a bus tour of Israel and Jerusalem. During his visit to Bethlehem, he visited the Church of the Nativity, the oldest operating church in the world. It is built over the place Jesus was born. Check these links out to see more--it is truly beautiful:
- Virtual tour of the Church of the Nativity: http://jerusalem.com/tour/nativity_church_3D/web
- Beautiful images of the Church of the Nativity: http://triggerpit.com/2011/03/28/church-of-nativity-walk-trough-where-jesus-christ-was-born/
Pepe then marveled at the black-cloaked priest praying and worshiping at the Wailing Wall, all that is left of the original temple. He laughed as he described the priest bowing and praying in unison..."Such a funny and peculiar sight to behold," he said. Learn more about and see images of the Wailing Wall: http://www.levitt.com/slideshow/s01p05.html
Perhaps Pepe's most profound experience was walking the Stations of the Cross--the actual path Jesus walked on his way to crucifixion and burial. This site explains more about the steps Catholics reflect on when contemplating the death of Jesus: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/stations.html It was at the tomb where Jesus was buried that Pepe purchased a candle. He lit this candle every Christmas eve for just for a few moments at a time and he would tell my Uncle Craig and I how he obtained the candle. He would remind us why we celebrate Christmas. It made each Christmas eve so special and so relevent. Today he told me the candle had special prayers and blessings associated with it, and when lit every year it was as if you were at the tomb where Jesus was laid to rest. I remember the candle being roughly a foot long, the circumference of a carrot, and white.
Your Pepe is a deeply devoted Catholic...I am so happy I was able to help him recall such a special day in his life! I am also happy I am able to share a little nugget of specialness about your grandfather!
Love you!
~Mama
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