Delights for the Eye

We began our classes on Moral Theology today, they are 3 hour classes and taught over three days.  We skip tomorrow and Thursday and commence again on Friday.  The professor is Mark Attard, O.Carm who teaches at the Gregorian, Teresianum, Regina Mundi and Augustinianum.  He taught from memory without any notes and was quite entertaining as well.  He certainly had a gift for holding our attention.  Morals is not an easy subject to teach.  I was quite happy that he heaped praise on Fr. Bernard Haring who was a great Moral Theologian, really the Father of Modern Moral Theology,  a brilliant scholar.  When Haring finally retired around 80 years of age he wrote some things that raised some eyebrows and blood pressure of a few fellows at the Vatican and has since not been looked upon to well.  Young priests and Seminarians usually tell you they have either never heard of him or he is a heretic.  In truth he was a man who brought pastoral sensitivity and real life into Morals.

Speaking of temptations and sensual things...one of the many wonders of Rome is the ability of business owners to entice you, to tantalize your senses.  The window displays here are wonderful, you want to buy, smell, eat, wear everything.  You really have to be disciplined or your credit card could get maxed out here very easily.

Here are a few examples...

Outside a Florist 

outside a Trattoria

Outside a wine bar

Outside a Restorante

A Bakery Window, yes I did go in but retrained myself

A Panini and "Pizza" place

 There are wonderful displays for the clergy as well.  This is a Saturno, a hat that is traditionally worn by a priest with his cassock in Rome.  Though not as common as they used to be, some do still wear them.  I saw a priest outside the Cheisa Nouvo scurrying across the Piazza with one on the other day.  They are typically made of felt, wool or beaver.  They can be worn pain or with the ceremonial cording you see on this one.  A priest wears black cords and tassels.  This one was made of beaver.  It has gold and green cording and tassels which indicates it has been made for a Bishop.  It is called a Saturno because it resembles the planet saturn.  In the days of yore when nearly every priest and seminarian wore cassock and saturno the Romans had a special nickname for the clergy, "Blatta", 'Cockroach' because there were so many of them scurrying about the streets of Rome!!

Bishop's Saturno, Even the clergy get eye candy!

 Here is very finely embroidered "Roman" style vestment.  I  did not bother to look at the price but I am sure it was very expensive, it was very nicely made.  I had to wait to take the picture because there was a gaggle of German Girls laughing outside the window and snapping pictures of the vestments in this display.  There is no shortage of apparel makers to the Clergy in this City.  They are basically clustered in the Borgo Pio outside the Vatican and near the Pantheon.  This shop is just off the Pantheon.  Why the pantheon?  Because there are many Seminaries in this area as well as the Gregorian University where many are studying.

Beautifully embroidered Roman Style Vestment