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Rome Pilgrimage 2015
(continued)
on the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25,
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity solemnly opens.
The Pope has specified two privileged tasks for this Papal
Basilica: the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Penance) and
the development and organization of ecumenical initiatives.
After visiting Saint Paul’s cathedral outside the Walls, we
were on our way to Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
City. We passed by the Coliseum. The building was,
and still is today, a show in itself. In fact, it is the largest
amphitheater not only in the city of Rome, but in the
world, able to offer stunning sceneries as well as services
for spectators. As a symbol of the pageantry of the Empire,
over the centuries the Amphitheater has changed its face
and its function, offering itself as a structured space,
which is also open to the Roman community. Today, the
Coliseum is a monument unto itself and unto the works
of human genius, which survives time. And yet, it is
still comfortable and dynamic, accessible on two levels,
offering a wide overview onto its interiors, but also short
and gives evocative brief glimpses of the city from its
outer arches.
This last day was concluded with speeches given by clergy
and testimonies from lay people at the conference room
of the hotel. Father Bo Westergaard from the Swedish
Lutheran Church spoke about Unity and reconciliation;
if we are to follow our Lords command to love each
other, we need to get to know each other, for the sake
of Unity. He quoted a Message from TLIG that
“every
church has to die to its ego”,
but no Church needs to die
to its soul. No Church will lose anything through Unity.
What is authentic will remain. Moreover, Father John
Abberton, who felt inspired by these words, came to the
podium asking us to trust Our Lady because she brought
us together. He added by saying that no religion has
anything to lose from Unity. He concluded by saying that
if people have worries and fears about the future, they
need to admit them and continues the God given path.
The Venerable Mahattero Sudhananda, who was
welcomed to give us a few words, spoke after Father
Abberton. He, as a Buddhist monk is living a life for
others. He is responsible for 300 orphans: to educate
them, nourish them and offer them a good future. He
lives in simplicity and modesty, giving everything to these
orphans, who he loves as his own children. Here are just a
few words from his speech:
“The discrimination among people of various
casts, creed or religion is the root of all obstacles of
establishing unity around the globe. The Buddha
had his loud voice of eliminating such differences of
human kind.
Today I recollect in memory how Vassula Ryden first
started the journey of TLIG with the vow of unity
and tranquility among people of all denomination.
Our attendance in various pilgrimages had been
gradually contributing in strengthening the unity
side by side reducing the differences. Bangladesh is a
land of communal harmony, the present Government
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina maintains
zero tolerance for those who try to destabilize the
communal harmony; we the people of all faiths live
in peace and amity.”
After hearing the Venerable Sudhananda’s talk, lay people
like Joe Chiaramonte from America who had seen Jesus’
Face on Vassula the first time he went to hear her, was
invited to speak about his conversion. Joe said that The
Holy Spirit guided him to find Jesus’ messages. Through
the messages, he felt such a great Love and a Grace in his
heart. He had never before felt such a love from his family
and he moreover, felt so blessed to be among us. Another
layperson Cecilia Lutz from the Philippines shared her
conversion story. She found God and His messages when
living in Switzerland, after being exposed to the New Age
sect at that time. She discovered the Messages through her
friend who had traveled from the Philippines to interview
Vassula in Switzerland, as Vassula was living there at
the time. Cecilia admitted that she doubted Vassula’s
authenticity at first sight; Vassula did not have the figure
of a person who receives messages from God. Cecilia
expected to see someone who looked more like a nun,
whereas Vassula’s appearance was more like a model’s.
However, later on in her house, during the interview she
experienced the powerful presence of The Lord. She said
that she heard a voice telling her:
“The King of kings is
here.”
She ended this beautiful testimony by saying that
the Messages saved her marriage.
And thus, these testimonies ended our Pilgrimage in the
Eternal City.
Katerina Kalantzi
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