A Pilgrim's Guide to Rome: 2000: Holy Year of Jubilee

by Barrett McGurn

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670876275
• ISBN13: 9780670876273
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 203 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.9" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Near perfect guide--even better with a few additions.

As a specialist in Vatican/Holy See International and Diplomatic Affairs,former cultural attache for the Consul for Vatican-American Cultural, Educational and Intellectual Affairs and a staff volunteer with the U.S. Bishop's Secretariat for the Jubilee I found McGurn's Pilgrim's Guide to be an excellent near perfect pocket guide for pilgrims, both Catholic and non-Catholic traveling to Rome. I used the book in June of 1999 for a pre-Jubilee factfinding trip. It provides details on those topics of great interest to those on pilgrimage to Rome, e.g. history of the Holy See's celebration of the Jubilee, information on the shrines integral to the Jubilee experience and important Holy Year 2000 dates and correlating Holy See events. I used the book continuously and carried it with me throughout my trip. On the other hand, as a pocket guide I would have preferred a more reality based and accurate map. The book's map is not precise and the traveler is required to buy an additional map to carry along with the book--on pilgrimage one wants to carry as little as possible and only the essentials. Another reality of the book one must accept is the general nature of the book's "pilgrim to Rome" related information. Its early publication required the book to have an early information cut-off date. This precluded the book from including more current information. In addition, I did not find any reference in the book to any of the offices in Rome dealing with Jubilee/pilgrim events, services or information or a reference citing where to go if one had non-Holy See Jubilee Rome specific questions--especially English speaking pilgrims. There are at least three different offices in downtown Rome working with the Holy See to coordinate Jubilee events in Rome proper. None of these were mentioned. Being a resourceful person I found these on my own. Nor was there any mention of the various Jubilee websites which are available and can be accessed while one is on pilgrim in Rome. These can be a helpful complement to the book. Apostolic nunciatures and various Bishops' Conferences all have established Jubilee networks and contacts-- noting the Jubilee-Rome contacts of the international Bishops' Conferences, if applicable, would have also been helpful. All in all, however, I was extremely glad I had this guidebook on hand. The empty pages in the back of the book proved to be a perfect place to enter important and current Jubilee information. This space proved invaluable--keeping one from having to pull-out an additional pad of paper. Despite a few shortfalls, this is a very, resourceful and perfectly sized guide--not too thick or cumbersome to handle while in transit on foot in busy Rome. There is no doubt this book is an excellent handy guide which for many will be one of their preferred guides for their pilgrimage to Rome during the Holy Year 2000.

A great travel preparation for the millenium traveler.

A very informative and portable book to help maximize your travels to Rome in the year 2000. Highlights on the significance of the Jubilee 2000 and significant sights in the city. Includes religious, geographical and cultural information that a traveler will find helpful.

scholarly, informative, beautifully illustrated

A fine pocket volume, this book is a must for the spiritual pilgrim. McGurn writes a scholarly and historic tome which covers every aspect of Rome for the Millennium traveller. It has beautiful line illustrations by Curtis Tappenden, which complement the text.