Shower of red roses
Writing from Rome, Tom Casey SJ describes a fascinating and moving annual tradition which marks the end of the Pentecost Mass in Saint Mary of the Martyrs, more famously known as the Pantheon. “Roman fire fighters positioned themselves high up around the 30-foot wide oculus or hole in the dome of the Pantheon, and at noon began throwing thousands upon thousands of red rose petals through this giant opening in the roof. We all gasped in joy and astonishment as the red rose petals appeared from a circle of cloudy sky and slowly wafted their way down onto the marble floor beneath.” Known as “the rain of the red rose petals”, it spoke, as Tom says, ” better than any words could of the Spirit flaming forth and dancing in a thousand unexpected places”.