As the world turns, one expected the Roman sun to rise at 06:32. It did. One expects it to set at 19:50.
The Ave Maria Bell – 20:00.
A note about the Ave Maria not being rung. I was working in my little kitchen last night with the window open and I heard a bell ringing at or near 20:00 and it wasn’t ringing the hour. Rather, by the time it really caught my attention, it rang a short sequence of 3. I must, tonight, pay attention. It may be an Ave Maria Bell. Wouldn’t that be great? The confirmation would need to be made on 15 April when the time should change to 20:15.
The Parish Façade Report.
Anvedi, ao!
Before…
Well? What do you think?
Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – UK HERE WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.
Meanwhile, last night I made Roman artichokes. I include a cork for scale.
Mentuccia, parsley, garlic.
After giving them a little color, into the pot they go.
To help keep the steam in, a piece of “frying paper”, as it is here called.
They are not hard to make once you get past the prep.
A good shot of the perfect storm of street blocking morning chaos.
Hello!
I stopped for clams at my fishmonger today. Tonight, The Great Roman™ will come to eat multiple spaghettis and clams preceded by raw fava beans along with pecorino cheese and white wine.
It was another great morning of errands and running into people. Also, in a space of about 10 minutes I was hit up for money. Always the same people. Always the same response. I never give money. Period. I’ll gladly buy someone something to eat, but I don’t give money. It’s the money they are after, mostly.
Meanwhile, at Pippo’s stand… these. What color in the morning sun!
Meanwhile, I have bad news. Yesterday in Round 7 of the Candidates Tournament, alas, Gukesh was defeated by Alireza Firouzja. He is now no longer at the bottom of the standings. Ian Nepomniachtchi drew against Hikaru Nakamura who had about 20 moves of preparation. With the defeat of Gukesh, Nepo is again the sole leader. Fabiano Caruana is in third place. Today is a rest day. Hostilities resume on Saturday, 13 April.
Here’s a puzzle. White to move and obtain a winning position. Note that the white knight and queen are under attack.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Click!
I am now a chess.com affiliate. So, click and join! Maybe we can build a fun and active Catholic Chess Club within Chess.com.
Ceterum censeo Firouzja delendum esse.
Loading ...
Quaeritur: is the bell I faintly hear at the start of the video the Ave Maria bell you mentioned?
A couple of days ago on the radio I heard a photographer tell the audience tulips should never be photographed from above, I think you proved him wrong. They look lovely. As does the façade, and of course the artichokes.
Unbelievable improvement to the facade of the beautiful Church !!!
Kudos to the workmen.
Question, Father:
Today’s Post headline reads: “ROME 24/3– Day 23: AT LONG LAST!”
Please advise what the figure “3” is doing after “24/”.
Should it not be a figure “4”, denoting April
Plus, congrats to Pippo for the wonderful yellow/orange “Tulipani”.
Plus, are the stunned-looking fish just coming out of the “Walking Togetherity Conference Thingy” recently held in Rome ?
Thank you for all your Roman news. Compulsive reading. Small donation for your apartment flowers (and Pippo’s holiday fund) on the way.
in Domino
EAW: bell
I don’t think so. The video’s timestamp is exactly 20:30. Good catch, however.
Zephyrinus: They are far too clear-eyed for them to have have been in that kettle of fish.
Looking at the ‘Before’ picture. It struck me that at one time the stone had been purposely colored. The capitals, bases of the columns and the statues.
Would you know?
1. Qxg7+ Kxd7
2. Nxe6+ wins the queen back
Thank you for the photos and the report on the Roman Artichoke.
Christophorus: Yes, indeed. Virtually all the churches in Rome were made to be that dreadful ochre color under the rule of the Savoy. Some were cleaned up faster than others. Finally, it was this church’s turn, before the Jubilee.
Is the recording of the bells in the Angelus app, the bells from The Parish?
The facade looks fantastic!! Looks so fresh and new!
Christophorus: Yes, indeed. Virtually all the churches in Rome were made to be that dreadful ochre color under the rule of the Savoy. Some were cleaned up faster than others. Finally, it was this church’s turn, before the Jubilee.
I had the exact same thought as Christophorus II above.
While I don’t pretend that I like the old color, I would ask: if it was painted, was that a protective layer? Sometimes paint is to protect the surface. I would hope that, by now, we know a bit more about how to protect marble, limestone and other stone products, and would not leave their ability to survive the elements to chance. (We have all seen stone buildings built in the late 1800’s with their facade darkened or even pitted from pollution.) Better still if we can do so while leaving the natural stone color coming through.
I had no idea. I had always assumed the church was supposed to be more or less that color, but I had never heard about the painting program under the Sardinians as the background.
It seems there was no Garabandal Miracle this year, but some smaller miracles for which I am most thankful to God. The comeback of the Ave Maria bell, if confirmed on Tuesday, would also reside in that category.
Giving the chess puzzle a try:
Black is already down a bishop and its king is not well defended, nor is its remaining bishop, languishing on a square from which the attacked knight can fork the queen and rook. A sacrifice of the attacked queen temporarily spares the knight while forcing the king into position for a “family fork”, from which it must flee, leaving its queen en prise.
1. Qxg7+ Kxg7
2. Nxe6+ Kh8 (or f7, or one of three choices on the sixth rank)
3. Nxd8 Rxd8
White is now up a pawn and the bishop pair for a knight, with both queens off the board.
The details of the facade now jump out.
As far as giving to those who beg –
Your approach is understandable Fr Z. I tend to agree. Will money just enable a poisonous habit ?
But then…. My Parish Priest speaks on this occasionally. His stance is that it is between the begger and God how that person uses the money you give them. And, of course none of us deserve anything that we have received.
Father Z., thank you for all your posts in Rome. I feel like I am there. Please forgive me as I am new to commenting on your blog, could you please tell me the name of your parish Church in Rome? I have tried to find it here on the website, but I must not be looking in the right place.
If I had read this first, I would not have needed my prior post.
God Bless
https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2024/04/the-newly-restored-facade-of-trinita.html
My Parish Priest speaks on this occasionally. His stance is that it is between the begger and God how that person uses the money you give them. And, of course none of us deserve anything that we have received.
We may indeed give with the spirit of generosity, hoping that the beggar is actually in need and will use it well.
But we may also give with the spirit of prudence, by attempting to ascertain what kind of need is the real need: sometimes it is not money, and sometimes it is money AND other kinds of assistance, and sometimes it is a kind heart and ear to hear their troubles. Prudence might involve putting the money into the hands of the a charity that knows this person in greater detail, and knows how to get them food, medicine, clothing and shelter more fittingly than they can do on their own.
I don’t need to judge others when they give in a different way than I give. Either way can be doing God’s will. As for following the Gospels: while I have heard any number of sermons telling us that giving to the poor is part of the message of the Gospel, I have heard not one single sermon addressing the fact that no passage in the Gospel shows Christ giving money to the poor, or telling his Apostles to do so. Yes, there are reasons for this, but overall, the reasons extend to different ways of acting in charity for the person who needs us.
“Well? What do you think?”
AO!! Chi è bella se vede, chi è bona se sa