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Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo: Reimagining the Human Path to Salvation Through Architecture

By Melissa Butz

Known for its appearance in “Angels and Demons,” Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo or Castle of the Holy Angel is a popular tourist spot. However, many overlook the bridge in front – a significant spot that takes us back to a critical moment in Christianity.

The Holy Angel bridge was originally built in 134 AD as a passageway to pagan Roman Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum. But in 590, after the fall of the Roman Empire, St. Michael the Archangel miraculously appeared to Pope Gregory the Great above the castle giving it a new religious meaning.

Art historian, Elizabeth Lev, says the castle became even more noteworthy as Christian pilgrims flocked to Rome in the 1300s. But it took another 300 years before the iconic angels were erected.  

“Clement IX starts thinking, ‘You know what? We need to jazz up this bridge,’” says Elizabeth. “In the 1670s, 1675 is going to be a Jubilee Year, so why not make it even more exciting for the pilgrims? They do it by adding these angels.”

The statues were designed by a 70-year-old Bernini, who, as a devout Catholic, was thinking about the end of his life. The angels represent the artist’s thoughts on the way to salvation, shown through Jesus’ passion.

“You start at the beginning of the road with St. Peter and St. Paul. St. Peter is telling you, ‘This is the road where the humble find forgiveness,’” says Elizabeth. “St. Paul is telling you, ‘This is the road where the proud find their comeuppance’ and you see these instruments.” 

They are displayed in each angels’ hands: ranging from the whips, to Jesus’ garments, to the cross and the sponge with vinegar that quenched Jesus’ thirst. 

“These angels were really designed,” says Elizabeth, “as you go to St. Peter’s, where you will receive your plenary indulgence… this is a way of reminding you what that salvation, what that forgiveness cost you.”

Elizabeth explains that today, tourists in the Eternal City often miss the importance of the bridge. Now, the pathway is crowded with vendors selling items on the ground, causing pilgrims to look down, instead of up at the angelic portrayal of the Way of the Cross.

Just as this pathway is a symbolic crossing over into salvation, pope’s also used it to save themselves. Escaping from the Holy See in a secret tunnel that led all the way to Castel Sant’Angelo. In fact, in 1527, Pope Clement VII was the very first one to use this escape route while fleeing the Sack of Rome.

How Catholics Are Working to Combat the Highest Homelessness Rates in NYC Since Great Depression

By Jessica Easthope

Homelessness in New York City is at the highest level since the Great Depression. It’s a reality hard to ignore.

“I’ve been coming here since the pandemic first hit and the only thing you see on the streets of Manhattan is homeless people,” said Geoff Turf, a commuter who comes through Penn Station in Midtown, Manhattan daily.

Compounded with the coronavirus crisis, the issue is sparking concerns about the future of New York City and the future homeless people face if they don’t get the help they need.

“We moved everything outside around March 16 and our numbers just exploded, quickly,” said James Murphy, a volunteer with The Catholic Worker on the Lower East Side.

James has seen the influx first hand. He says before the pandemic they were serving 120 people a day. Now they serve more than 250. But more than hot meals, James says the goal is to dish out some dignity.

“Get to know people, that personal interaction is also needed beyond money and beyond standing behind a stainless steel table and handing out food,” James said.

Though meaningful, the Catholic Worker’s efforts only help a small percentage. According to the most recent counts, 132,660 men, women and children were sleeping in homeless shelters across the city. That number doesn’t account for those who sleep on the street.

In Midtown, commuters at Penn Station say the situation is heartbreaking.

“There’s a lot more homelessness, it’s sad to see what’s going on with our homeless in New York, I think they’ve been forgotten,” said Cynthia Legra, another commuter.

But the people coming to the Catholic Worker everyday won’t let the volunteers forget: lives depend on the calling they have to help the poor.

“It’s our responsibility as Catholics to help those in need,” James said. “It’s a foundation of our faith, there’s no doubt about that.”

How Xavier Society for the Blind Is Helping Blind Catholics Practice Faith During the Pandemic

By Emily Drooby

Being blind has always been a part of Donna Slivoski’s life, just like her faith.

She’s a parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. Like many Catholics, the way she practices her faith has had to change during the pandemic. However, Donna faces unique challenges. For example, church livestreams don’t work as well for her, especially the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“It’s not quite the same for me because I can’t see the monstrance that’s being shown on the computer screen,” she explained, saying it’s better for her to be in church to use her other senses. “Because you can smell incense, sometimes you can smell candles and it just increases the sensory awareness of adoration,” she added.

Due to pandemic restrictions, there are times she cannot and could not be in church. Donna refused to let that hurt her faith.

For example, when she couldn’t lector at church, she joined an online prayer group for blind Christians. There, she was able to use those skills.

“Thanks to the Bible that I have in braille, I am able to read the assigned scripture reading every Friday afternoon to the group,” said Donna.

Donna gets many of her Catholic braille resources from Xavier Society for the Blind, a NYC based non-profit founded 120 years ago.

“We provide materials in braille and audio to help blind and visually impaired people practice, develop and learn about their faith,” said Malachy Fallon, their executive director.

He said a lot of their members have struggled during the pandemic.

“There’s a great sense of isolation to begin with because of their blindness, and I think that having the opportunity to practice together in a faith community is very important so I think not having the ability added to the sense of isolation,” he explained further.

During the pandemic, they worked hard to help people like Donna stay connected with their faith. Putting out digital pieces and audio recordings and even sending out the braille versions of the Propers of the Sunday Mass.

It’s proving no matter what obstacles the pandemic throws at Catholics, their faith will always prevail.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 9/2/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Pope Francis holds an in-person audience for the first time since March – and makes a call for a worldwide day of prayer for the people of Lebanon.

Protecting children as they return to school – we’ll find out what mask is best to keep them safe.

Marking the 75th anniversary of V-J day with a vet from Queens who was at Iwo Jima.

What’s the Best Mask for Students to Wear to School? We Ask the Doc

Currents News Staff

As we all get ready for the new school year, aside from school supplies and maybe some new clothes, masks are now on everyone’s back to school shopping list.

There are so many different kinds on the market, and face shields are on shelves as well. Which ones are the best, especially for kids?

Dr. Robert Tiballi from the Catholic Medical Association joins Currents News to discuss which masks can be the best for students.

Question of Transparency Regarding President Trump’s Health Raises Concern for Medical Experts

Currents News Staff

President Trump’s unannounced visit to Walter Reed Medical Center last November raises new and troubling questions about transparency from the White House.

In a forthcoming book, New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt, not revealing his sources, says Vice President Pence was put on standby to temporarily assume the powers of the presidency, if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required anesthesia.

Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, wonders what the medical emergency was.

“It makes you wonder, what was that?” Sanjay says, “and is it going to lead to anything more down the road? He was only in the hospital for just over an hour, so we know it’s unlikely he was anesthetized. It’s unlikely he had a procedure done. But something that day got people really worried.”

Pence did not end up assuming the powers of the presidency that day. At the time of Trump’s Walter Reed visit, the White House called it “routine.”

A former White House physician, William Lang, served under Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, says there could be a straightforward explanation.

“Whenever the president travels, the job of the military unit and the medical unit is to make sure that all contingencies are covered,” William says, “so we don’t know what the details of this reported, ‘have the vice president on standby’. This may have just been the routine, ‘ok, the president is going to the hospital. Let’s make sure we’ve got all our standard-standard operating procedures in place.”

On Sept. 2, Trump tweeted “It never ends!”- and denied a suggestion from a fringe author, that he’d suffered a series of mini-strokes.

Trump’s White House physician, Sean Conley, also denied that, and in a statement said “the president remains healthy and I have no concerns about his ability to maintain the rigorous schedule ahead of him.”

But Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta says there remain too many unanswered questions over unusual occurrences surrounding that Walter Reed visit.

“They say this was a routine visit, but nothing about this visit was routine: on a Saturday, unannounced, doctors in the car with him,” Sanjay says. “They say it had nothing to do with the brain or the heart. But frankly, most routine things can otherwise be taken care of at the White House. So this doesn’t make sense.”

There have been other attention-grabbing moments. On two separate occasions, President Trump had to steady one hand with the other while drinking water during speeches.

He seemingly walked hesitantly down a ramp at West Point this summer, steadying his feet at every step.

He made an unfounded claim at the time –  that the ramp was slippery and he didn’t want to fall in front of the “fake news”.

“This was a steel ramp, it had no handrail,” President Trump says, “it was like an ice skating rink.”

Through all of it, the president and his doctors have repeatedly contended that he’s healthy. But NYU Langone Medical Ethicist Arthur Caplan is concerned about the secrecy.

“My worry is, we have an election between Trump and Biden, and Trump somehow in the middle of this becomes incapacitated, but covers it up, doesn’t let us know that the person we are going to vote for may become increasingly disabled during a second term,” Arthur says.

Pope’s First Encounter With Pilgrims in Months: We Must Show Solidarity, ‘Or Things Will Get Worse’

Currents News Staff

After practically six months with no contact with people outside the Vatican, the Holy Father met once again with pilgrims.

Pope Francis greeted them before beginning his catechesis. Everyone was required to wear masks, and the pontiff stayed a safe distance away.

He wanted to make up for the time lost during the pandemic and stopped to listen to those present. One of the most moving moments? Pope Francis prayed for a few seconds after kissing and holding a Lebanese flag.

“After so many months, we resume our meeting face-to-face; not screen-to-screen—face-to-face. This is nice,” the Holy Father said.

He continued his reflection on the post-pandemic world. He explained that these months have shown our interconnectedness. That’s why solidarity is necessary, now more than ever.

“It’s not merely a question of helping others—it’s good to do so—it is a matter of justice. Solidarity today is the road to living in a post-pandemic world, toward the healing of our interpersonal and social sicknesses. There is no other option: either we move forward along the road of solidarity, or things will get worse,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis insisted yet again on taking advantage of this crisis to enact real change. For example, not considering others as tools. In front of individualistic egoism, the pope advocated for unity in diversity.

“A diversity in solidarity possesses antibodies that ensure that the singularity of each person—which is a gift, unique and unrepeatable—does not sicken with individualism, with selfishness,” he added.

The pontiff concluded this first audience with pilgrims by inviting them to pray silently for Lebanon. It’s been a month since the terrible explosions that devastated Beirut, leaving dozens dead, hundreds wounded and causing enormous material damages.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 9/1/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The President in Kenosha after the police shooting of a black man.

What the NYPD Commissioner is saying about the dramatic rise in gun violence across the city.

Seminarians from across the country head to Rome to complete their studies to become priests.

NYC Public School Delayed Opening Could Impact Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens

By Emily Drooby

New York City public schools were originally slated to start a hybrid mix of in-person and online learning on September 10.

But in a newly announced schedule, teachers will instead begin preparing their classrooms on September 10. All students will begin remote learning on September 16 and on September 21, school doors will open for blended in-person learning.

This change could have an impact on parish schools and Catholic academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“There is nothing more precious than taking care of the children of NYC,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio as he announced the changed schedule on September 1.

The New York City public school date change comes amid threats of a possible teachers strike, angry over their pandemic safety demands not being met.

During the press conference, Public Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said, “We’ve heard from our educators, from our school leaders, everyone in our schools that have said we need some more time.”

The head of the teacher’s union was also on hand at the media event to endorse the new plan.

This change is not so great for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Superintendent of schools Thomas Chadzutko explains that it puts Catholic schools reopening in jeopardy.

“Personally, I felt devastated, not for myself but for the principals, and the boards and teachers who have worked tirelessly over the summer,” he told Currents News.

Chadzutko says a majority of their schools are ready to open with 100% in-person instruction on September 9.

The city provides six services described as non-negotiable to the Diocese of Brooklyn’s reopening plan; security, nurses, transportation services, food services, special education teacher support services and crossing guards.

“We really cannot open without the services,” explained Chadzutko.

It’s not yet clear if those services will be available for their opening. Chadzutko said they’re still moving ahead with their original reopening plans so that they don’t fall behind.

The superintendent’s office is attempting to get answers about the city’s plan for these essential services. They told Currents News they reached out to the city as soon as the announcement was made. They have also been looking into laws to see if there is anything that might help.