An Adventure in Spirituality, Art and Haute Cuisine… Johan van Parys, Ph.D. As with most things in life, even chapters of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums go through highs and lows. After experiencing a lean year, we were able to pick up the pace and signed on several new members during the months preceding our fifth annual trip to Rome. New Patrons, new enthusiasm, new things to see made for an extra-ordinary visit to The Vatican and to Rome. After a lovely evening at Le Jardin de Russie with our new international director, Fr. Mark Haydu as the guest of honor we were ready to begin our Italian week… Day two began with an expert tour of St. Peter’s Basilica by one of the young Legionnaires of Christ who blended history, art and spirituality into a rich narrative that kept us engaged for over an hour. Day three was another day in the country as we traveled to Castel Gandolfo for a rewarding visit to the famed gardens of the Papal Summer Residence. The lunch overlooking the Lago Majore and a wine tasting deep below the surface in caves carved out in the tufa some centuries ago, ended the day in style. Day four started with a visit to the Vatican mosaic studios. From there we went on to the restoration laboratories (sculptures and painting) where our new patrons marveled in the artistry of the Vatican restoration artists. After a short midday brake we were again picked up by the Vatican bus for a wonderful evening in The Vatican. It all began with a very moving Mass celebrated by then archbishop and now Cardinal Lajolo, assisted by then Deacon and now Father Mark Haydu and a choir of seminarians. Deliah Bujold, one of our patrons proclaimed the first reading beautifully. After Mass Cardinal Lajolo graciously allowed time for some photos. The ever so wonderful and erudite Gabriela then guided us through corridors and hallways and landed us in the Sistine Chapel, the Rafael rooms and the Borgia apartments for a leisurely and much appreciated tour. Having sated our spiritual and our artistic hunger we were ready to move on to dinner to enjoy the culinary and enological arts of Italy. Day five, began with preferred seating at the general audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The audience followed it normal course, until the Holy Father unexpectedly (at least to us) announced that he was going to created a number of new Cardinals. We were very excited to hear among them the names of two Americans, Archbishop Foley and Archbishop Di Nardo. When the Holy Father also mentioned that Archbishop Lajolo was to be made a Cardinal, the MN/ND chapter of the patrons lost its customary Northern composure and burst out in applause as we all remembered how gracious he had been to us the night before. Full of excitement we made our way to the Casina of Pius IV for a reception and a lunch. This lovely building which was recently restored is the perfect setting for an early fall outing and a toast to those who were to be made Cardinals. To our great surprise, Archbishop Sanchez Sorondo the director of the Pontifical institute for Science joined us for lunch. He was delighted to find several medical doctors at his table whom he engaged in a lively conversation about end of life issues. From there we went to the new excavations of Santa Rosa for a tour with Dr. Spinola who supervised the excavations. The practice of leaving in place most everything that was found in these tombs may strike some people as macabre but it truly allows for a much better understanding of burial customs in the 2nd and 3rd century. For fear that the day would be considered light-weight we returned to our hotel, put on our fineries, once again and made our way to the residence of the American Ambassador to the Holy See for a lovely reception. We are extremely grateful to Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, to Dr.Buranelli, to Father Haydu and to Sara, Gabriella and Romina for making our fifth annual trip so memorable. The look forward to our next visit to Rome with MN and ND Patrons, old and new.