ROME 25/4– Day 12: Easter Sunday

From 06:20 until 19:59 did the Roman sun shine.

The Roman Curia had, in general, no business today, but … I’ll bet someone checked email and fax in the Sacra Penitenzieria Apostolica!… the Ave Maria is still in their 20:15 cycle.

The Roman Station is at St. Mary Major, which really does make sense, doesn’t it? More than any other church in Rome dedicated to anyone else? Think about it.

An idea for your parish…

An Easter Tradition in Florence like no other. pic.twitter.com/cfYszsjwat

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) April 20, 2025

And this…

St. John Signs Lucrative Nike Endorsement After Beating St. Peter To Tomb https://t.co/TS9a9nwJvR pic.twitter.com/WR0pEUEDCC

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) April 19, 2025

Happier times…

The Twentieth Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s Election https://t.co/rVeWhVsRgl pic.twitter.com/vIryArzznn

— New Liturgical Movement (@NLMblog) April 19, 2025

This is odd. Maybe for his “saftety”? Yeah.

Israel has REFUSED to allow the Papal Nuncio Adolfo Tito Yllana to attend Easter ceremonies at the Holy Sepulchre tonight pic.twitter.com/FxlGEtheOT

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) April 19, 2025

White to move and force mate in 8.  Yes… 8.  Except maybe for one move, it isn’t that hard.  You have to find the right intermezzo (better in German: Zwischenzug).

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

There is a huge “Freestyle” (Fischer Random) tourney in Germany right now. Magnus Carlsen has taken the sole lead in the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open: perfect score 5/5. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana along with others are snapping at his heels. I saw some video of the event. It is huge.

8-time French Champion Etienne Bacrot asks Magnus Carlsen for a selfie before their game! ?#FreestyleChess #GrenkeChess pic.twitter.com/dcDiE5Y9YF

— chess24 (@chess24com) April 19, 2025

For this Eastertide, how about some GREAT BEER?   I personally attest that this is some of the best beer I’ve ever had.  Great with savory sausage and cheeses.  Mmmmmm.  Beeeeerrrrrrrrr.

And you get to help the monks of Norcia build their monastery.  How cool is that?