Jenn Southerton spent this past fall semester participating in DeSales University's study abroad program in Rome. The below post is edited and reposted from her blog with permission, which describes one aspect of her time there.

One of my favorite aspects of studying abroad in Rome this past semester was my Art and Architecture class. Being that the class was in Rome, it really turned into more of a “Church History” class! We would gallivant across the city, notebooks in hands and camera around necks, learning about the early Church. One of my favorite days was going to San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.

In St. John Lateran, the mosaic above the papal throne struck me the most. What really stood out was the jeweled cross in the center with a river running out of it. The river was surrounded by deer. This image was in reference to Psalm 42 “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?" I stood and marveled at it for a couple of minutes.

Meanwhile, Mass was being celebrated in a side chapel and I could hear them singing, “Here I am Lord, is it I Lord, I have heard you calling in the night, I will go Lord, if You lead me, I will hold Your people in my heart.” I was amazed that it was being sung in English and I knew that God was reassuring me with His impeccable timing. It was such a reflective moment and really put everything in perspective.

Our next stop, The Basilica of the Holy Cross on Jerusalem, was a church built where St. Helen’s house used to be. When St. Helen, Emperor Constantine’s mother, returned to Rome from the Holy Land, she brought back the True Cross of Jesus, the nails that pierced Christ’s hands and feet, part of the crown of thorns, and the inscription that read “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” The relics are completely authentic. In 100 A.D., Emperor Hadrian had two pagan temples built – one directly on top of Calvary and one directly on top of Jesus’ tomb. Back in those days, a pit would be dug next to where the dead were buried. When St. Helen got to the Holy Land, she dug around the temple and found the pit with everything there.

In a side chapel, behind a glass wall, sat the wooden cross encased in gold, approximately one foot by one foot. To the left of it was one of the nails and to the right was the inscription. It was extraordinary but also gut-wrenching to see these objects that played a part in crucifying Christ. In the center of the display sat a jar of stones from Calvary. To its right were two of the thorns that pierced Jesus’ head. To see it all directly in front of me was overwhelming. “Behold, behold, the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation, O come let us adore” played in my head as I reflected on the sacrifice of our Savior.

I never imagined that I would be able to see all of these artifacts with my own eyes. I am still in awe of everything. Often times, I think people see Jesus as only existing in another world, or being ancient history. It has only been 2000 years since Jesus walked this earth. In learning about the history of the early Church, I have become more knowledgeable and thusly, more firm in my faith. Thank God for a good education, good teachers, and the gift of wonder and awe.