ROME 23/10 – Day 07: Popping clams and pooping pigeons

7:11 and 18:44 are the times for sunrise and sunset in Rome.  The Ave Maria bells ought to ring at 19:00.

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which means that it is also the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto.   In Italian it’s: Lépanto.

It is also the Feast of St. Mark, Pope, who died in +336.  He was one of the first who was not a martyr.  I think the very first was Miltiades.

It is the Feast of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, early martyrs.  There is an image of them in the Church of St. Mary della Scala in Trastevere, which I will dig up.  Not real flattering, I think.  It makes them look like they were just forced to sit through a day of “walking together”… let’s see if I can find it.

It’s the eyes upward to Heaven that does it… or is it an eye roll?   Maybe it’s that.  An eye roll to Heaven.   I can hear it, “Please get me out of here?”… “If I have to listen to this Jesuit one more minute…”.

Yesterday, I had a brief walk at about the time the sun was doing its Roman thing.  Such beautiful light.

A visit to my saint, Philip Neri.

Dear Pippo, help me find my apartment and way to pay for it.  Thanks in advance.

The nave still has a lot of scaffolding.   I am not sure what they are doing.

I am not sure why I took this shot, unless it was for the “for rent” sign by the door.

Regardless of why I took the shot, I also “took the shot”.  It was right around here that I was shat upon by a pigeon (aka rat with wings).  They say it is good luck.  At least it was not a seagull, which is even more good luck.   Straight down the front of my shirt.  It could have been worse, all in all.   Rome happens.

On that note, I wish every bit of good luck to the Synod (“walking together”) members as they walk together to and froe to the “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” (“W-T-F”) meetings (explanation HERE).

Back at the apartment, and the washing machine, I prepared supper.   Spaghetti alle vongole!  I like to simmer garlic and some parsley for a while in oil and wine.

The clams I had purged for several hours.   They say they are purged.  HA.  I purge them more.   You can see a couple pop here, but I had to clamp that cover down.

Having pulled the clams, I finished cooking the pasta in the liquid, which also tightened it up with starch.

A nice big bowl of spaghetti alle vongole veraci.  And some chess from the US Championship in St. Louis.  I had some catching up to do.

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Today is the anniversary of when the demon worship bowl was placed on the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica during the Amazon Synod (“walking together”).

It is the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Please say a chaplet of the Rosary in reparation for all this mess.

Don’t forget a pray for me.

Meanwhile, black to move.  Find the best move.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

I look at this each day and sigh when I post it. However, I need to do it.

Holy Mass today was offered for all my regular monthly donors.

Thank you. There was a new signer-upper today, MH. Alas, couple have dropped from this day. I remain grateful.

In your goodness, remember that the wonderful Benedictine monks of Norcia make terrific beer. Try some and help them.

Maybe chicken and salad tonight.