A Love Affair with Italy

By Marielena Montesino de Stuart

Saturday break from politics, sort of…

Ah, the Latins… you’ll find them in the region between the Adriatic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They are ethnically complex, but are bound by the common Latin root of their languages. Their artistry, romanticism and hot-blooded nature is what defines them. It was in this region that Christianity came together as the strongest force in Europe– not just in numbers but aesthetically– through its extraordinary churches, cathedrals and multiple expressions of creativity. At the center of it all lies Italy, where Christendom found it’s beating heart– St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Bernini’s columns are the guards solemnly embracing this great basilica. This inclination to protect our Christian culture and centers of worship is also evident in Italy’s myriad fortifications, which stand as silent sentinels of the efforts made to safeguard this territory.

Under Bernini’s massive columns, surrounded by extraordinary beauty and the Christian faith that defines this part of the world– is where I have spent some of the most wonderful moments of my life. As such, I am constantly reminded that Europeans must not allow the destruction of Europe to continue at the hands of Socialists who have dragged them back to the Gates of Vienna– as they face Islamic extremism and violence. This violence will find another home in the United States– unless Americans wake up.

It’s Saturday– and time for a break from news and politics… sort of. Let’s recharge with a little feast for the eyes. My love affair with Italy continues.