The Holy House of Loreto

 

Dear Friends and Family,

Among many blessings of the past week, I was able to make a pilgrimage to the Holy House of Loreto, to Osimo--where St. Joseph of Cupertino spent the last six years of his life, and to Assisi. The above photo was taken this morning in Rome (of the Pantheon), where I am now ready to dive back into studies!

Loreto was quite moving, so moving that I'm afraid I forgot to take any pictures of it. While there, I read a detailed study of the historical proof that the house in Loreto is indeed the house from Nazareth in which the Virgin Mary lived, received the visit of the angel Gabriel, and, together with St. Joseph, raised Our Lord. I will not go into the many scientific and historical proofs here, but will simply say that I found them quite convincing. 

Inside of the large basilica now built around it, one finds in Loreto encased in an outer shell of marble, the old stone walls of the house of Nazareth. Still today in Nazareth one finds foundations--matching exactly the dimensions of the house in Loreto--and the cave that formed part of the home, but here in Loreto one finds the three walls of the home, the fourth having consisted of the cave itself. 

I was able to go into the Holy House several times, and two of those times was able to spend 20-30 minutes praying there. It was moving to pray where the Holy Family lived, to ask for graces on behalf of all the young families today who are trying to raise their children well, to ask for graces for many others, and to ask for graces for myself as a priest, particularly the grace of giving a complete yes to the will of God as the Virgin Mary gave a complete yes to Him through the angel Gabriel.

I then went to Osimo, where the rooms of St. Joseph of Cupertino are quite well preserved. One can walk through them, and also can walk right up to the altar where he celebrated Mass for the last 6 years of his life, often levitating. It was wonderful to be able to pray there, and to pray at his tomb. 

I then stopped by Assisi and spent an hour praying at the Portiuncula, where the Franciscan order began, and at the site where St. Francis ended his earthly pilgrimage.

In Florence, where I spent several days with the family that hosted me during my Italian immersion last year, I was able to visit the beautiful Dominican convent of San Marco, and the tomb of St. Antonino.

I will continue to remember you all at the tombs of the Saints in Rome.

May Our Lady guide you and may Jesus be your strength.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Roma Aeterna

 

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers for safe travels. I arrived safe and sound in Rome a week ago today! It was a joy to be able to pray at the tombs of the saints. I spent one afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica, and took time especially to pray at the tombs of St. Peter, Pope St. Innocent, and Pope St. Pius X, confiding this time in Rome to their intercession. 

I was also able to visit the room where St. Brigid of Sweden lived for 19 years. Below are two pictures of her relics and an inscription:

In the bottom photo you can see some of her relics on the ledge, with an inscription below, and then, encased in glass at the bottom of the photo, a wooden table. The inscription, with the close up of it in the first photo, explains the table relic. It says:

"On this table [St. Brigid] wrote the book of her revelations, ate food with her sisters, and gave up her spirit to God." Indeed, after living 19 years in that little room, while playing a key role in the events of Rome, and writing there the book of visions given by God, she died lying on that wooden table. The Nuns indicated that I might be able to offer a private Mass in St. Brigid's room, which is now a small chapel. If I am able to, I will pray for you all there.

This weekend I arrived for a visit with the host family that welcomed me last year, just outside of Florence. It is a blessing to be back in the beautiful surroundings here:

God-willing, I will make a pilgrimage to Loreto this week before returning to Rome. You all are in my daily prayers.

May Our Lady guide you and may the Lord bless you and your families.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Heading to Rome

 

Dear Friends and Family,

After a very blessed 8 months at home with my parents and family, after gracious and expert care from doctors and physical therapists, after many joyful encounters with families back in the U.S., I have received the green light to fly back to Italy and so should be landing in the Eternal City for the Feast of the Assumption. Thank you very much for all of your prayers!

My back injuries are not only healed but my back is now I think better than it ever has been in my life. I have resumed jogging and the full range of activities. I'm looking forward to hiking again the streets of Rome and am eager to dive back into the libraries there for doctoral research. I will remember you at the tombs of the saints.

Below are a few photos from the past few weeks, including one of a nun that some of you will recognize as a former parishioner of yours. On the occasion of a canon law conference at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I crossed paths with her and the other members of the community. She seems to be flourishing as a nun.

The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales in St. Louis, where I lodged briefly.

Part of the outdoor shrines (entry to a way of the Cross) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin, where I was for a canon law conference.

I will be praying for you all in the Eternal City!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Final Exams are Done!

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers during the past 3 weeks of exams. I completed the last one Friday and am most grateful for having successfully completed this semester in spite of all the time lost due to injuries.

One sibling arrived in town Friday night with his children, another arrives today with his, and my sister and her children are already here. So the next week will be devoted to family time.

Thank you again for your prayers!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

The Beauty of God's Creation

 

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers. Exams are off to a good start! Just wanted to share two photos with you today.

In Cordibus Iesu Et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Pentecost and Final Exams

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Feast of Pentecost! I will be praying for you all today and throughout this Octave of Pentecost. May the Holy Ghost fill your hearts and guide you ever more quickly along the path of holiness.

Am in the midst of final exams right now, and will be for the next 20 days or so. Hence, I may not post again until I am done. But you all are in my prayers!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Prayer and Study

 

Dear Friends and Family,

The image you see above is an icon painted by my little sister, that now hangs above the desk where I work (i.e. study) each day. It is St. Therese of Lisieux offering a rose, along with its thorns, to the one praying (or studying) before it. I'm very blessed to have it here, along with this charcoal of St. Therese, based off of the photo that you may have seen, also done by my little sister:

Her childlike gaze seems to be saying "Look to Jesus. Focus on what is essential. Give your life to Him."

It has been a real joy praying the rosary with many of you each day as we prepare to make or renew the total consecration to Jesus through Mary, according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort, on May 31. It seems especially fitting that St. Louis has us pray each day--throughout the 33 days, the Litany of the Holy Ghost. It is a joy to be able to pray that prayer each day during the oldest novena in the history of the Church--the 9 days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

I find this time so much a time of hope! If God could transform the Apostles as radically as He did, thanks to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, what can He do with us? And then we will have the Octave of Pentecost, with its rich readings. Lots to look forward to...

In the meantime, I am in the midst of end-of-the year papers and exams, which will continue for the next 3 weeks or so. They are coming along well but there is still lots to do.

Thank you also for your prayers for my back. The physical therapist has been really excellent and is making good progress on my spine. Still many more weeks to go but the results have already been quite good--able to sit up straighter, less pain, etc. So I'm hopeful that God has more blessings in store in this domain over the next few weeks. We shall see.

In the meantime, may Our Lady be by your side to intercede for you in this blessed liturgical time.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari