ROME 22/10 – Day 17: Bad ideas and good ideas

Sunrise was at 7:23 and sunset will be at 18:28 and the Ave Maria Bells should ring out, would that they would ring out, at 18:45.  It is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, whose relics are at San Clemente here in Rome.  He was the third Bishop of Antioch, a see founded by Peter, who was Vicar of Christ.  He was Vicar of Christ and then he left Antioch to go elsewhere.  That suggests that perhaps the office of Bishop of Rome and the office of Vicar of Christ as not so indivisible as some might think.  Some will respond that the Peter dying in Rome “sealed the deal”, as it were, and that ever after Peter’s successors as Vicar of Christ would therefore also make them simultaneously and for always, Bishop of Rome.  Others say, “Not so fast!  You still have deal with the fact that Peter left one see for another.”

St. Ignatius is one of the so-called Apostolic Fathers, who had contact with living Apostles in the early years of the Church. Others are Clement of Rome and Polycarp. We have letters written by them, which are very important. Ignatius wrote letters as a prisoner on the way to Rome to be executed… by lions in the Colosseum.  He dealt with the nature of the Church and of bishops.

He wrote:

“It is impossible for a man to be freed from the habit of sin before he hates it, just as it is impossible to receive forgiveness before confessing his trespasses…”

Hate your sins, which are the path to Hell and the scourge of others and…

GO TO CONFESSION!

People have written that they want more foody things in my posts.  I’m trying, folks, but really!  There’s only so much I can do!

Here’s something I did for lunch yesterday.  When I was living here, in hotter weather for lunch I would often have a tramezzino, a sandwich cut on the diagonal, often tuna and tomato with a glass of iced tea.   Yesterday I got some pizza bianca, and made my own rather than spending money at a bar.  They were great.

I had some pizza left which, this morning I toasted and then treated with Patum Peperium. It doesn’t look great, but, I assure you, it has given me another reason to return to Rome! Toasted pizza bianca and Patum. Fantastic.  Great idea.

Also fantastic is the courtyard of the Palazzo Spada.

Not fantastic is the appalling building surrounding the Ara Pacis of Augustus.  What were they thinking?   I remember the days when it was encased in a large glass shelter and was illuminated.  You could see it as you walked or as you drove along the Tiber.   Now… well… there are handsomer gas stations.  Bad idea.

This is definitely not a gas station, but rather the humble abode of the Borghese Family.

I spotted this little jewel at Piazza del Popolo.

That little basket on the back. Good idea.

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White to move. These end game puzzles can be hard.  At least I find them to be hard.  This took a while.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

More from Piazza del Popolo.  A follow up.  Good idea?  You decide.