Quo Vadis?

[Deus te Amat]

This seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life lately. Latin for "where are you going?" Quo Vadis were the words supposedly asked to St. Peter by Jesus as Peter was attempting to flee Nero's persecution of Christians in 64 AD. As Peter was leaving the city, he encountered Christ near what has been discovered to be the largest set of catacombs outside Rome proper -- probably near where Christians had been meeting in secret for years. Supposedly, as he was walking, his companions saw him suddenly stop and fall to his knees, holding a conversation with a voice that only he could see the speaker. Jesus was going back into the city to die again with his people. Peter, humbled, realized that it was his particular witness to give his life for Christ, and turned back as well.

When I was in Rome, I was able to visit the Quo Vadis church. Small, but simply beautiful, the church and its art commemorates this momentous interior transformation. In the middle of the floor is set a marble stone, in the center of which is the indentations of (purportedly) Peter's feet when he saw Jesus, surrounded by a latin inscription including the words, "Quo Vadis". That same day, I toured the catacombs and saw the tombs of many Christian martyrs, including the original resting place of St. Cecilia.

Coming back home this summer, I picked up the book [i]Quo Vadis[/i] by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and read the story of early Christians in narrative form. It was truly an inspirational learning experience.

This question has been hounding me for the last several months, and it is so difficult to accept the answer, at times. And so I ask you, each of you, to think seriously. Where are you Going? and are you going with God?




Pax Christi.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Deus_te_Amat

[dominicansoul]

this will be used for meditation later...thanx for posting this

[Noel's angel]

I hope more people read this. It's given me a lot to think about.

[Lil Red]

i sent you a pm.

[Gregorius]

That actually is a reoccuring theme that comes up in vocation discernment. It's on my own mind too.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Deus_te_Amat' timestamp='1284053268' post='2170880']
This seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life lately. Latin for "where are you going?" Quo Vadis were the words supposedly asked to St. Peter by Jesus as Peter was attempting to flee Nero's persecution of Christians in 64 AD. As Peter was leaving the city, he encountered Christ near what has been discovered to be the largest set of catacombs outside Rome proper -- probably near where Christians had been meeting in secret for years. Supposedly, as he was walking, his companions saw him suddenly stop and fall to his knees, holding a conversation with a voice that only he could see the speaker. Jesus was going back into the city to die again with his people. Peter, humbled, realized that it was his particular witness to give his life for Christ, and turned back as well.

When I was in Rome, I was able to visit the Quo Vadis church. Small, but simply beautiful, the church and its art commemorates this momentous interior transformation. In the middle of the floor is set a marble stone, in the center of which is the indentations of (purportedly) Peter's feet when he saw Jesus, surrounded by a latin inscription including the words, "Quo Vadis". That same day, I toured the catacombs and saw the tombs of many Christian martyrs, including the original resting place of St. Cecilia.

Coming back home this summer, I picked up the book [i]Quo Vadis[/i] by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and read the story of early Christians in narrative form. It was truly an inspirational learning experience.

This question has been hounding me for the last several months, and it is so difficult to accept the answer, at times. And so I ask you, each of you, to think seriously. Where are you Going? and are you going with God?

Pax Christi.
[/quote]

Wonderful post. Thank-you! It was a very timely reminder and something for me to think about more.

Edited September 9, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[MithLuin]

I think the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are designed to answer that question

But yes, it's quite a provocative story...really sticks in the memory.

[Deus te Amat]

What happened to the bump smiley? Edited September 10, 2010 by Deus_te_Amat

[AccountDeleted]

Just what I needed to read. Thanx.

[OraProMe]

Quo vadis? and Quid est veritas? are probably the most frustrating questions I've ever had to ask myself. I also have no idea how to give a certain answer to either.

hmmmmph

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='OraProMe' timestamp='1284092330' post='2171238']
Quo vadis? and Quid est veritas? are probably the most frustrating questions I've ever had to ask myself. I also have no idea how to give a certain answer to either.

hmmmmph
[/quote]

Well, right now the quo is to the store to get some bread and milk and the veritas is that I don't have much money so I can't buy lots of chocolate as well.

[TeresaBenedicta]

I think, for the first time in my life, I can answer that question with very little doubt. Praise God. Although, I have to admit, it's a strange 'feeling'. Ya know, we spend so much of our lives searching for God's will for us that it's actually a little surprising when we're finally living it out!! Who'd've thunk it?

[let_go_let_God]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1284125750' post='2171337']
I think, for the first time in my life, I can answer that question with very little doubt. Praise God. Although, I have to admit, it's a strange 'feeling'. Ya know, we spend so much of our lives searching for God's will for us that it's actually a little surprising when we're finally living it out!!
[/quote]

I agree, but even though I feel like I am where God has asked me to be, I can't help but still ask, am I doing it right?

God bless-
LGLG

[Rebecca2009]

Thank you for posting this. Wow.....

[Deus te Amat]

Bump again. I want the whole pham to read this. Especially today.