Happy Thanksgiving from Rome!

Yesterday was quite a day, with the Mass at 5 pm in the Vatican and our concert at 9 pm at Santa Maria Maggiore. It is followed today by the additional strangeness of a Thanksgiving in a country that does not celebrate Thanksgiving. Being away from family and friends is difficult, but we will drown our sorrow in a celebratory dinner tonight at a restaurant in the Villa Borghese gardens. Turkey and cranberry sauce, it goes without saying, will not be on the menu.

Note above, in a not so good photograph, the little advance notice about our Mass and concert, which ran in the Corriere della sera yesterday. As a group we felt pretty happy with both performances, the culmination of a lot of hard work and preparation. Look for reports later this week on visits tomorrow to the Basilica of Santa Costanza and San Pietro in Vincoli, both visited by me for the first time this week.

Warm wishes and safe travels to all our American readers on this Thanksgiving Day!