This is the Rome parish of San Ippolito, constructed in 1954. It's a Franciscan parish located on the Viale delle Provincie, near the Piazza Bologna metro stop.
Our pastor was Msgr. Schuler, a living saint who often introduced himself as Fr. Schuler. Msgr. Schuler was in Rome for 10 days with his aunt in 1950 and stayed at the Hotel Hassler. Later, he returned to study on a Fulbright scholarship which he won for the academic year '54-'55.
At that time Msgr. rented a flat with his mother on the Via Isabella d'Aragona, 2. The landlady's husband had been in Mussolini's navy. For that whole year while in Rome Msgr. celebrated his daily morning Mass in this newly opened Rome parish of S. Ippolito. Years later he still was able laugh in remembering the filthy alb the Franciscans gave him to wear.
We have all met living saints and they are an example to us. Please pray for his soul. He's the one who helped to develop my love for Rome in understanding it as a communis patria (a fatherland common to all). He always encouraged us to be every anxious to make our pilgrimage to Rome: videre Petrum (to see Peter).
Msgr. explained that Rome is not just a city, but a world where antiquity, the Middle Ages and the present day intermingle, become lost in one another, complete each other and present a spectacle without parallel in the world. He explained that Rome is the common birthplace of every child of Western civilization and that the daily life of everyone reared in this civilization is permeated with the life of Rome.
4 comments:
Many years ago Monsignor is the one who helped me understand that Mass as it was celebrated at St. Agnes was exactly what the Council intended and that he was not at all "pre-Vatican II" as his critics liked to accuse him of being. He was one of the best!
The "Old Man" was the whisper that solicits one to the mountain peaks.
Beautiful reflection and remembrance of Monsignor. I'm sad that I never actually had the honor of meeting him. Yet, I feel that I meet him every time I attend the parish that reflects the fruits of his labors.
I heard that story about the alb about 2 months after moving in to the rectory....
Ya know, I had the honor of travelling to Rome for the occasion of Joe Johnson's ordination. What an experience...we actually went to that parish....as well as so many others....
As you know, I miss that man daily. He was a great person and an even better friend...he taught me more on how to be a good Catholic than anyone ever did...
The "liturgical snobbery" came as a blessing in disguise....
I pray for him daily.
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