Crowds thronged the approaches, and finding ourselves surrounded by such a seething mass of people, we deemed it wise to arrange a meeting place outside in case the party should find it impossible to remain together. Having finally established ourselves about half-way down the Basilica, we experimented with mirrors to get a better view of the dais on which the Holy Father would stand.

Loud-speakers introduced the singing of hymns in various languages. English pilgrims were either few in number or were not credited with vocal abilities, for when the call came to England, prayers were recited. Yet, how much more it meant to recite the Holy Year Prayer, knowing that the Pope who had composed it would soon enter the Basilica.

At twelve o'clock precisely, a mighty cheer went up, trumpeters appeared on the balcony and the object of our desires was attained. At last we were beholding the Holy Father in person as he was borne on the Sedia Gestatoria.

All present in one mighty accord proclaimed their affection; and undemonstrative as we English are considered to be, in one moment we were waving and cheering, united to all that vast crowd in loyalty to the living representative of Christ. Turning from side to side, giving his blessing with a gesture that seemed to embrace each individual, Pope Pius XII finally mounted the dais and addressed the assembly in five languages, mentioning the groups.

What a thrill it was to hear the Society of the Cross of Saint-Quentin mentioned by His Holiness on such an occasion. As the Holy Father departed, there was a strange sensation that he was bidding farewell to me. Each one of us remarked this, and surely this is no mere impression but the result of the universal love and fatherliness of Our Sovereign Pontiff.

Of the problems of extricating oneself intact from such a gathering little can be said, or of the invasion of buses, which in the Eternal City seem to be permitted an illimitable capacity. One's only hope of survival is to surge forward and hope to reach the front exit before the destination is reached.

Plenty of experience in this art was provided by our afternoon visit to St. Paul without the Walls, for we had to board a series of buses to reach this Basilica.

This church is so completely different in structure from the other Basilicas that it compels attention. The height and severe pillars give it more of the old Grecian effect and the structure in general is less ornate.

Easter Sunday will never be forgotten. Tickets had been secured for entrance to St. Peter's for the Papal Mass. Having attended Mass at 5.30 in the Convent Chapel, we found ourselves in St. Peter's by 8 a.m. The three hours' wait until Mass began did not seem in the least tedious. Who could describe the thrill of that morning? One has to be present at a scene of such splendour to gain a conception of it.

All the exquisite pageantry, the uniforms of the various Papal officials were of interest, but they never for a moment distracted attention from the one figure we were longing to welcome again. Meanwhile we prayed especially for all our friends and relatives whom we should have liked to be with us.

To single out details of so impressive a ceremony as the Papal Mass is vain, but there was one moment which none present could ever forget. The mighty Basilica thronged with crowds of all nations, yet at the solemn moment of the Consecration, the silence was intense, broken only by the order to the Guards to Present Arms, and by the clear notes of the silver trumpets proclaiming the descent of Our Lord Himself upon the altar.

After the Mass we were all in St. Peter's Square in time to receive the Holy Father's Blessing when he appeared on the balcony. Cheers and outbursts of enthusiasm were silenced at the mere raising of his hand as he gave his blessing to the City and the World, "Urbi et orbi."

Only an event of special interest could have aroused our enthusiasm after such a morning - and such an interest was offered. Reverend Mother General had been granted an audience with Cardinal Tisserant, the Cardinal Protector of the Religious of the Cross. The pupils were permitted to accompany the Nuns and to be present for part of the audience.

The Cardinal knows England well and asked questions about our Convents here, and although his remarks to the pupils were in French we were able to follow and the younger members had all explained to them afterwards. His Eminence emphasised the responsibilities of all who enjoyed the privilege of a visit to Rome during the Holy Year, and he trusted that we would return with our Faith deepened and strengthened by all the impressions which our jubilee visit must have made.

A visit to St. Mary Major was opportunely timed as the whole Basilica was lit up just after our arrival and revealed the beauty of the frescoes to greater advantage. In this Basilica we saw the manger brought from Bethlehem and now preserved in the crypt. That night the thoughts of that wonderful day were turned over and over - and appreciated still more in recollection.

Our arrival the next day at the Colosseum caused quite a sensation. We were examining the arena when an invitation was extended to the party to be televised. It was rather difficult to continue our tour trying to appear natural and unconcerned, but really acutely conscious of the presence of a camera.

The film appeared on the television some weeks later. This was to be an `historical' day, for our next item of interest was the Church of San Clemente where Father Butler, O.P. kindly acted as guide and made everything connected with these three churches built above one another, an exciting adventure of the Church through the ages.

Here is one of the world's most exquisite pieces of mosaic and the precautions taken to preserve it during the recent war were explained to us. Even such technical matters as the drainage system became realistic as its connection with the great cloaca which drained the Colosseum was revealed.

St. Maria Sopra Minerva had been included in our list of churches to visit, and there we saw the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena and her actual room. The effigy of the saint, placed above the tomb is amazingly life-like. Before the end of the afternoon other wonderful statues were to become familiar to the party. It was only natural that the Boscombe group should direct its steps to the Gesu, the principal Jesuit Church in Rome.

Something of the world-wide work of the Society of Jesus impressed itself upon our minds as we venerated relics of Jesuit Saints, brought from all parts of the world, and contained in small, imitation skulls.

In view of the Saints who are our House patrons, we were proud to pray before the immense silver statue of St. Ignatius and at the altar where the skeleton of the hand of St. Francis Xavier is preserved.

How cold and bare the Pantheon seemed in comparison with the Gesu - an imposing historical monument but with no appeal to the heart. This Roman temple has a round dome which is open at the top and a marvellous brass door of Roman workmanship. It was built in 27 B.C., but not until 1609 was it consecrated when Boniface IV brought thither martyrs' bones from the catacombs. Raphael's tomb makes the church of interest to the artist.