Catholicism is widely practiced in Italy. According to Just Landed, some 88 percent of Italy’s population belong to the Roman Catholic Church. There are many Catholic churches all over Italy and it is definitely worth visiting one at some point, whether you go to a service or just enter during the day to see what it looks like.
Personally, I am not Catholic, but I grew up Christian and attended a Methodist church. In Milan, I am attending a Catholic university, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. I decided to attend a Catholic service because I was curious to see what it was like, how the service was constructed, how many people attended, etc.
I attended a service in the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, which is right next to my school, in the heart of Milan. The Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is one of the oldest churches in Milan, as it was built between the years 379-386. Since then, it has undergone multiple reconstructions which have resulted in the church’s Romanesque style.
The inside of the church is gorgeous. It is huge with plenty of pews and multiple small chapels on each side. The ceilings are high and the architecture is beautiful. The altar sits under a large dome and its beauty is too immense to put into words. This altar is special because under it lies a crypt that was originally built in the 9th century to hold the remains of three saints: Ambrose, Gervasus and Protasus. The current crypt dates to the 18th century. It was restored and also contains the tomb of Emperor Louis II, who died in Lombardy in 875.
The service itself was quite traditional, although most of the attendees were dressed in casual clothing. The service was in Italian so, unfortunately, I could not understand everything, but I was able to follow along for the most part with what was going on. Something that stuck me about the service was how simple it was. There wasn’t a lot of music and there was no choir. There were some songs sung by the congregation which were led by the priests.
Despite not being able to speak the language, the service was empowering. I had not attended church since being in Milan, and it was very soothing. Church is something familiar to me, so it felt good to enter into a place of God and spend time in the presence of other Christians in a Holy place.
After attending this service, my perspective of Italy changed a little bit. Taking a part in and attending something that is so central to this country and the people that live here really gave me peace of mind and showed me what the values of Italy are and what they are based on.
Attending a Catholic service in Italy was truly a wonderful experience that left me feeling calm and peaceful. It also gave me a new perspective of the country in which I am living and exploring. This is an experience that will always stick out in my mind when I think of my time in Italy.
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