By Noah Kiesel, Parishioner of St. James Parish in Haubstadt, Gibson Southern High School Senior
In all reality, I think there’s only one word that comes to mind when thinking of this experience: Wow!
The things we have seen and the places we’ve gone are incredible pieces of our Church’s history, and the sheer number of them is overwhelming. The massive Basilica of St. Peter’s, the beautiful Sistine Chapel and the dozens of other churches we visited in Rome were just incredible. Going at 100 miles an hour, it was tough to fully appreciate everything I was seeing with my own eyes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t describe to you half of the churches we visited in Rome because they were all so elegant that they blended together. I could spend a whole day in each one and still not be able to take it all in.
We began to slow down the trip in the quiet hillside town of Assisi. Here, we watched a beautiful sunset over the town and visited much simpler churches — yet they shared the same beauty and the same Christ within. The town felt untouched, almost magical, especially with the beautiful weather we were blessed with. It was hard to leave it behind.
But we had more great things ahead. We arrived in Turin and slowed things down as the week came to a close. It was here, in the oratory that St. John Bosco founded and St. Dominic Savio attended, that I realized: God works in small ways. I felt more at peace in the small churches, with fewer visitors, than in those that could fit more than a dozen of my parishes inside. Not to pour water on St. Peter’s fire or anything.
I had always thought of Savio as a king-like figure, living a grand life with some royal power that made him the saint he became. But that wasn’t the case. He lived a simple life in a tiny town of fewer than 200 people and followed four simple promises to get to heaven:
1. I will go to confession often and receive Holy Communion as frequently as I can.
2. I wish to sanctify and celebrate Sundays and feast days in a special manner.
3. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary.
4. Death rather than sin.
That was it. Those four simple phrases — along with the guidance of John Bosco — sparked a movement far bigger than Savio could have ever imagined. The houses of these two men have now become museums, and cathedrals have been built in their honor.
And the best part? We can attain this! God works in the quiet places of life. It seems impossible to wrap my head around, but I could be the next great saint. A cathedral could one day bear my name, or my journal could be placed in a museum. This realization hit me like a brick while sitting in the same pews Savio sat in so many years ago.
It’s sad to know that most people won’t be blessed with the opportunity we’ve had. For me, one of the most meaningful parts of this trip was seeing the strong presence of Marian churches, chapels and statues. Bosco and Savio were both deeply devoted to Mary, and I love going to her and having her with me. The oratory I’m sitting at wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the legacy of these two saints. It’s my job to work little by little, through the small moments in life, to evangelize this glorious faith.
As St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” Preaching the Good News with just words is like faith without works. Actions are the foundation for words. The actions I take will have a greater impact than the words I say. If there is one thing I take away from this experience, it’s that I must become the man God made me to be.
I could write 20 more pages about this experience, and it’s still so hard to sum it all up. But this is true: God doesn’t call the equipped — he equips the called. It’s safe to say I will never forget this trip, and I can only hope to return to Italy one day.
Thank you to all the patrons of this trip for making it possible. God bless!