Today was a day dedicated to death. Firstly, a trip to the catacombs on Via Appia Antica on the outskirts of Rome. We visited Catacombe E Chiesa di San Sebastiano (aka the catacombs where saint sebastion was buried which catacombs are located under the basillica of saint sebastian). It was originally a roman cementary which housed the ashes of romans and was later used as a christian cementary. Later the church was built on top. It is said that Saint Sebastion was buried there, and Saints Peter and Paul were also buried there temporarily. The catacombs were only excavated in the 1920s approx. there are a couple of roman mausoleums in their original state-no retouching!
No photos allowed in the catacombs but I could take pictures in the basillica. Another beautifully decorated church.
Next up was the Capuchin monks. Must do some reading up on these guys. The woman manning the gift shop was talking about the differences with christianity and why the cross they wear is different (more like a capital T, than a little t). Apparantly they advocate love during life on earth and being happy in your mortal life rather than concentrating on the afterlife (I think that is what she said). These guys have a crypt under the church where bones have been arranged artistically and are considered a dedication to their faith. Also no photos, so I caved and brought a postcard so I can take a photo of it. Its like nothing I have ever seen before. The mind boggles with the number of people required to provide that number of bones. Different parts of the crypt focus on different bones-one part used primarily the pelvis bone.
So many ways to remain after death.
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