Where you are now, we once were. Where we are now, you will be.

After leaving the Borghese Gardens, a group of us stopped at the crypt of the "Bones of the Brothers." Our instructors had described this place to us prior to our trip, and I had always had the understanding that this particular crypt underneath a church held some of the bones of a particular order of monks. However, I don't think anything could have prepared me for what I saw when I entered. On the walls and ceilings of the crypt were the bones of literally thousands of monks. If that wasn't shocking enough, the bones were arranged in intricate designs, similar to the frescoes found in St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. I'm not sure how to describe it, other than saying that everything from the hanging lights to the clocks were made entirely of human bones. Have a look: (Viewer discretion advised!)

Keep in mind that everything you are seeing is made of the bones of the deceased monks. As I stepped through the crypt, I couldn't help but wonder about the purpose behind the bone designs. The idea of human bones being used as a type of art medium (like wood or paint) seems to devalue the humanity of the individual. How would it feel to be a monk in that particular order and know that one day you would be part of the wall "displays?" As I thought about this, it occurred to me that the structures and designs are composed of the earthly remains of the bodies after the souls have entered heaven. Most importantly, what is left behind is not buried, but, rather, turned into yet another sign of devotion to God. Some members of our group were disturbed by the crypt, but, when you look at the bigger picture and not the individual components, the true beauty emerges. It's very similar to how we live our lives. If we examine the details of each other, we are likely to find things that do make us uncomfortable. On the other hand, when we see people as complete individuals, we see the true beauty of God's gift. At the exit of the crypt, the phrase was printed, "Where you are now, we once were. Where we are now, you will be."