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This is Veronica holding the
candles that all carried during the procession. (In probable
violation of every known fire code) The candles were placed inside
paper shades. As later photos show, when the shade was
directly over the flame the candle took on the appearance of a
flowering light. This shot was taken as our group stood in
front of the hotel waiting for the procession to pass by. |
The procession was led by bands
playing music, followed by the color guards and several groups of
service members carrying some important items. For example,
this international team carried the cross. Another group
carried a lighted statue of the Virgin Mary. Once the mass
throng appeared holding their candles, we knew it was time to join. |
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This was the sea of candles.
The procession moved forward slowly, listening to and singing a song
honoring Mary over loudspeakers. As the refrain came, "Ave
Ave Ave Maria," all stopped and raised their candles in the air,
such as this moment captured in the photo. |
This was the scene at the
Basilica. I was fortunate to gain a vantage point on a park
bench. A small chorus sang beautiful hymns as the thousands
assembled listened and chanted. There were prayers said and
blessings given before the procession dispersed. We got back
to the hotel by midnight. |
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The late night (and probably
partying afterwards) did not deter the crowds from returning to the
Basilica for the Sunday morning Mass. Again, it was an
international event. |
This Mass was celebrated with an
international choir, shown in this photo, with the Vatican Guards
present at stage left. |
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This was our first large-scale
outdoor Mass, so it was our first exposure to the notion of
'communion umbrellas.' Rather than have everyone queue up, a
whole bunch of Eucharistic Ministers went among the crowd to make
themselves available to all those who wanted Communion. |
This was the recession.
The priests, Vatican guards, and color guards followed a roped path
out from the Basilica, with the main celebrant showering the crowd
with Holy Water. |
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About an hour later, it was
sadly time for the closing ceremony. Similar to the opening
ceremony, a group of bands paraded into the Basilica courtyard, each
band from a different nation and with a very different musical
style. The orange band, for example, was an Irish bagpipe
band. |
From our terrific vantage point
on the Basilica's left wing, we watched as the Vatican guards led
the color guards into the courtyard. |
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The stage for the closing
ceremony hosted a choir and a group of German Soldiers as torch
bearers. I do not recall what each torch represented, but
their lighting was preceded by a different prayer. |
As the ceremony concluded and
the final recession took place, these three banners were mounted to
bid all a safe journey home. |
