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| what the monastery looked like in 1744 |
On these
hot August days one of the best places to
find a cool breeze is in the
wooded hills of Monte Fogliano overlooking Vetralla. The road winds up through the shadowy
woods where mushrooms and wild boar
can be sighted.
Along the roadside a series white ceramic
stations of the cross mark the way
before the road turns in narrow cypress
lined drive . Here is the majestic Passionist monastery founded
by St. Paul of the Cross in 1744.
The Passionists' priorities
included good views and prime real estate for an almost identical Passionist monastery
can be found on an almost identical hill on the
Monte Argentario peninsula, less
than 100 kilometres away in
Tuscany.
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| sculpture of Newman's conversion by Barbieri |
In this lush Italian
landscape and this historic Italian monastery visitors are quite
surprised to find connections
with England ..and the opera world.
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| the sculpture of Newman and Barbieri |
On the left
hand side of the monastery chapel is a double statue
honoring Blessed Domenico
Barbieri (1792-1849 and Cardinal John Henry Newman. Father Barbieri was a missionary in England where
he founded four Passionist houses and was responsible for the conversion of John Henry Newman. When Newman became a Cardinal he was dedicated to Catholic
education, as the many university Newman Clubs
attest.
In the
early years of the 1900s, a brother of popular Italian tenor, Beniamino Gigli, was a priest here. Thanks to this connection electricity was brought up the mountain for the monastery, as the plaque
located just above the “cabina
elettrica” reminds visitors.
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| the monastery today is a place for retreats |
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| altar of St. Paul of the Cross |
Read about
the Wedding of the Trees which takes place each
year on May 8th in a clearing nearby. Have you been to this festival?
