Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 1

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Porta San Paolo is one of the southern gates in the 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome. The original name of the gate was the Latin name Porta Ostiensis because it was located at the beginning of Via Ostiense, the road that connected Rome with Ostia and the sea. Later it was renamed to the Italian Porta San Paolo because it was the gate that led out to the Basilica of San Paolo, "outside the walls."

Catholic Collect for the 1st Sunday in Advent

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and come,
that by thy protection we may be rescued
from the dangers that beset us through our sins;
and be a Redeemer to deliver us;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.

Bonus Gate: November 30, 2009

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Today is Monday of the first week in Advent. The Advent Calendar of Roman Gates does not start until tomorrow, but I offer you this gate as a Monday bonus! The Porta Santo Spirito (of the Holy Spirit) is the only surviving Renaissance gate in the Vatican walls. Construction on this gate began in 1542 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, but was abondoned and remains unfinished because Michaelangelo suggested that the walls should follow a different course.

Advent Calendar 2009: INTRODUCTION

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Today is the First Sunday of Advent. As I have done for the past two years, I will again offer a blog version of an Advent Calendar. I remember enjoying Advent Calendars as a child and I shared them over the years with my own kids, Emily and Peter. Each day in December we looked forward to opening a little door and revealing a picture, and sometimes a verse, relating to Christmas.

The theme for 2009 is Roman Gates. For each of the twenty four days before Christmas you will find a photo of a different gate here in Rome along with a brief Advent prayer. I hope these images and thoughts will help you prepare for the celebration of Christmas and I hope you will enjoy these Roman gates.

The Advent Calendar will begin on December 1st with the first gate.
While you are waiting...


Here is the gate to our apartment building on Piazza Oderico da Pordenone in the Garbatella neighborhood of Rome.

Anglican Collect for First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
1979 Book of Common Prayer

Here are some more gates in our neighborhood of Garbatella.

You can check December in the blog archives for previous Advent Calendars:
Doors of Rome (2008)
Windows of Rome (2009)

Kid's Shoes

Recently I took photos of what the 5th grade students were wearing on their feet that day.

The Archbishop Comes to Visit

Two weeks ago we were in London and went past Lambeth Palace, home to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Last night the Archbishop, Rowan Williams, was the preacher at an ecumenical vesper service at Caravita, our church in the center of Rome. Cardinal Kasper was the presider. (Please excuse the blurry photo...I was the thurifer!)

In the sacristy before the service I mention to the Archbishop that I was recently in London for my first time, and while on the Hop On - Hop Off tourist bus we went past his house. There is even a stop for Lambeth Palace on the bus. He indicated that they were well served by the bus and "next time in London I should hop off... knock on the door... and have a spot of tea."

The Archbishop asked about my home parish, and I was able to proudly speak of the Church of the Holy Apostles in New York City.

Visiting London

We visited a friend in London during the first week of November and were able to explore several parts of the city. One of highlights was a performance of Les Miserables at the Queen's Theater.

This is the front door to our friend's apartment building.

These are other homes in the neighborhood.

Here I am on the bus heading to the center of the city.

Parliament on the River Thames.

Everyone recognizes BIG BEN.

Trafalgar Square was much larger than I expected it to be.

Here are some people playing a game in Trafalgar Square that I remember for the era the Beatles we introduced to America on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Vincenzo enjoyed being a tourist on top

of the double decker sight-seeing bus, even in the rain.

I was hoping to feed the birds on the steps of St. Paul's, but alas, it is forbidden! (They could do it when Mary Poppins was in town!)

The Baker Street Underground Station

is a must for fans of Sherlock Holmes.

New Museum Mugs

As some know, we have a collection of museum coffee mugs. This week, while we were in London, we added new mugs to remember our visits to The National Gallery and Tate Modern.