Growing up in a Catholic household, my evolving faith has helped me develop a strong desire to grow in an environment that prioritizes support and reflection. Attending an all-girls catholic high school made me realize faith-based education was extremely important to me, which heightened my love for Salve. When it came time to decide where I’d like to study abroad, these foundations heavily factored into my desire to study in Rome as the city is filled with rich history and serves as the heart of the Catholic Church. Besides the rich culture I knew I would be diving into, one of the things I was most excited about being in Rome for was Holy Week.
One of the most interesting parts of my Holy Week was visiting the Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs, in Rome. These are the very steps Jesus had climbed to Pontius Pilate’s palace on the day of his death sentence. These were transported to Rome from Jerusalem in 326 AD by empress Saint Helena, and are now open to the public. Guests are asked to climb the stairs on their knees as “an action of devotion to relive the passion of Christ and ensure plenary indulgence from sins” (Turismo Roma). Getting the opportunity to climb and pray for friends and family on all 28 steps was such a special experience, especially on the last Friday of the Lenten season. Afterwards, my friends and I went to Good Friday mass at the Pope’s Cathedral, Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, across the street. Though I am not fluent in Italian, I find myself thoroughly enjoying masses held exclusively in Italian, as it allows me to reflect on how faith transcends language, reminding me that the Lord’s teachings are universal.
I found myself at the Colosseum twice during Holy Week, one of them being the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum. I was most excited to be a witness to Pope Leo XIV’s first Easter as Pope. Although the crowds limited our view, getting to listen to the live stream surrounded by my friends was just as special. Being in Rome for the first American Pope’s first Easter made the experience even more meaningful, as I felt more connected to my family and friends at home from over 4,000 miles away. Ironically, home came to Rome on Holy Saturday, as my mom was in town to spend Easter with me! On Holy Saturday, my mom, two family friends, and I did an underground tour of the Colosseum. This was another significant moment of my Holy Week as it tied together the historical and spiritual lessons I had experienced throughout the week.
Easter Sunday had to have been the peak of my study abroad experience. My mom had purposely stayed in the Monteverde district, just a 5-minute walk south of Vatican City. That way, we were able to wake up before sunrise and attend mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. I have heard from a friend’s previous experiences that they were waiting online for hours, even with seat reservations. Considering we didn’t have any tickets, I was expecting to be in the very back of St. Peter’s Square. I was pleasantly surprised to walk in and see seats available for us, with a great view! Not only did we get seats, but we were close enough to receive Communion as well.
This experience had been better than I could’ve asked for, and I was so excited to be able to share it with my mom. My mom has been the strongest pillar in my life, a true example of how staying rooted in her faith has helped her overcome many hardships. I am so blessed to have experienced one of the holiest days of the year in the center of Christianity with her. Experiencing this while studying abroad showed me how meaningful it is to connect my faith to the places I am lucky enough to explore.
Source Used: “The Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs.” Turismo Roma, 25 Sept. 2025, www.turismoroma.it/en/places/pontifical-sanctuary-holy-stairs
Madison Lewinger is a junior majoring in finance and minoring in accounting and sports management at Salve. She is currently studying abroad at the American University of Rome. Madison has also completed Salve’s “Summer in Oxford” program and is enjoying studying abroad for the second time!
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