If you are in search of a plenary indulgence, this is the way to go...

We met in our language groups to develop three questions each to pose to the General Council. Our group selected three fairly related themes: the unique identity of the Brother in light of “Shared Mission”; the need to focus attention of lay colleagues who do not have a need or desire to form an intentional community with/around the Christian Brothers and the need for ongoing formation for everyone involved in the delivery of the Lasallian Mission. We met with the Superior and his Council at 4:30 PM. We were broken up into language groups and each then met with a Councilor who spoke that language. We met with Brother David Hawke from Australia and the Councilor for the Pacific Asia Region which includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and India. He was absolutely delightful and our conversation with him was candid and informative. We then regrouped for Mass, social and dinner. It was a relaxed and productive time – not at all intimidating as some of us had assumed. The experience convinced of two things: first that, from my perspective, the Christian Brothers are way ahead of most (if not all) religious congregations in terms of trying to get a handle on how to respond to the rapidly changing world we occupy – especially as it relates to the involvement of lay people in delivering the Mission. The second thing that struck me by this experience is that the Brothers, themselves, aren’t sure of where this will take them and are looking to lay people like those of us gathered together in Rome, to assist them in figuring it out. I came away from the moment with more questions than answers, but confident that the Brothers are moving in the right direction. It was one of those rare sunny days, so Bob, Ann, Bill, and I trooped off to visit the Basilicas of Saint John Lateran (the “Pope’s Church) and Santa Maria Maggiore – the last of the four Basilicas on our itinerary to visit (the other two being Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls and Saint Peter’s – of course). Saint John Lateran was the seat of the Papacy until the completion of Saint Peters and you can see some resemblance in architectural style. We also visited the former Papal Chapel of Saint Lawrence - just across the piazza from Saint John Lateran – where (it is said) Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine, had the stairs (Scala Sancta) that Jesus climbed to meet with Pontius Pilate shipped to Rome and ultimately placed in this church. It is the custom of the pious to climb the stairs on their knees and, sure enough, there was quite a crowd doing exactly that. I viewed the scene with conflicting emotions – my rational side said those stairs may have come from Palestine, but Jesus probably never climbed them – my religious side said what impressive faith people must have to make that climb for the purpose of seeking God’s favor. Speaking of which, it is Church custom that if one visits all four of Rome’s major Basilicas and goes to Confession and receives Communion and prays for the Pope, then one will be granted a plenary indulgence (too complicated to explain – check it out on Wikipedia). Now all I need to do is find a priest who only speaks Italian… * This statue of De la Salle, mounted in the northeast cloister (quadrant) of the Motherhouse was a gift of the Brothers of Italy at the time of the 44th General Chapter. I like the feeling of motion that De la Salle's upraised left hand creates - as if he is reaching for the future. Note that his right hand is placed on the student's shoulder and that the boy is looking up at De la Salle, as if seeking guidance.