So, Jason (who is sometimes a bit TOO organized) thought we should start standing in line at 3 p.m. Yes. THREE P.M. Despite Easter Vigil Mass being held at St. Peters for probably hundreds of years, the Vatican still manages to fall victim to the chaos of Italy and have almost no plan or organization as to how those attending should line up. We just started filing into a line into a wooden-fenced-off area, kind of like a corral.
Of course, one would think that those individuals who have given their lives to the Lord, i.e. nuns, priests, monks, etc. would be in some sort of Catholic V.I.P. line. Sadly, no. The were thrown into the cattle round-up with the rest of us waiting in the hot sun that afternoon. There did seem to be some sort of a V.I.P. door area, but any members of the clergy that approached the gate guards were quickly shunned and directed to the corral with the rest of us peons.
There was a priest there that looked like he worked for the Priest Secret Service... if there is one. Are priests allowed to wear Oakleys?! ;)
We were surrounded by screaming Spanish kids, quiet adorable American girls reviewing their scripture, frat boys, ...you name the nationality and type, their people were probably there in that line with us. There were several in the group that insisted on chanting as if we were at a soccer match - their voices growing louder as the time for Mass approached.
As time wore on, we had to stand ever closer to each other. There were many line jumpers that hadn't waited in the sun since 3 p.m. and had various members of their groups hold their spots. At one point we were so squished, I'm not quite sure my feet were touching the ground! One would think that having a German pope would put fear in the hearts of those line jumpers!! Apparently, not so much.
Around 7:30 they opened the gates and I saw something I shall probably never see again - THE RUN OF THE NUNS 2009! Everyone was running FULL SPEED over the cobblestones! Everyone sped to the metal detectors, passed through, and then ran full pelt again into St. Peters. Everyone took their seats... a particularly adorable group of nuns rushed to the seats closest to the Pope's path to the altar, giddy with excitement!
The staff handed us each a small candle as we walked in. I BELIEVE the idea was that the pope and bishops light the candles from their candles as they walk towards the altar. Then everyone lights their candles from those, etc. Well, no one really "got this" and they started whipping out their lighters left and right, lighting them all in a random fashion. Then, about a minute later, the Vatican staff just flicked on the floodlights. Totally lost the moment.
Then as the pope passed up the aisle, two things happened. One, totally cute, the other, completely and utterly annoying. The aforementioned nuns were gazing longingly at the pope as he strode past them, just like those 50's movies where all the young girls swoon at Frankie Valli! They were so excited! :) On the other hand, the gaggle of Spanish youths that had nabbed the seats in front of us started STANDING ON THEIR CHAIRS to get a better look. It was like a circus - so upsetting. Mass shouldn't be a spectacle!
The service was nice, albeit long, Of course, I sang along with the hymns, my favorite part. I also particularly enjoyed that they had speakers read different parts of the service in different languages - it really was very unifying.
Hopefully by the end of my tour here I will have seen another Mass at the Vatican... ;)
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