狼友阁

With the opportunity to step into Italian culture and art history during a three-week course, students came away from this experience with a deeper understanding of the history of worship through art, and a deeper understanding of how Christians lived hundreds of years ago.

Landmarks

The group had the opportunity to visit many historical sites. Places like the Basilica of San Clemente, the Scrovegni Chapel and Santa Scala were on the itinerary. A student on the trip, Jenna McClure '27, noted, 鈥淏y standing in these places of worship, I was able to truly imagine what it was like for the Christians that lived in those times and think about the impact that the art had on their faith. This changed the way that I looked at and understood the art, creating an embodied learning experience.鈥� 

When visiting the Santa Scala, the 28 steps which are believed to be from Pontius Pilate's palace, students were asked to lay aside their pride, and to climb. Students were not just climbing one foot after the other, but on their hands and knees. Just as Martin Luther did in 1510, a climb that caused him to question the authenticity of penance when he reached the top. McClure felt especially moved by this part of the trip, 鈥淢any pilgrims have climbed up those stairs to pray, and our class did the same. Feeling the hard wood on my shins and listening to the creaking of the steps as others climbed up around me made me feel the weight of how many Christians there have been before me and consider how this one gospel story has changed the lives of so many for centuries.鈥� The practice connected the students with a long line of Christians who have done the same.

Community 

In addition to learning, throughout this May term students had the opportunity to grow in community. Not only were students able to build community, but Dr. Weichbrodt herself was an integral part of the experience. Grace Gerhardt '27 shared her experience in this area 鈥淐onnecting with my professor personally helped me to engage with the course material better and also to take away more from the trip in general. Traveling with my classmates was similar. It was fun to share almost every part of life together for 3 weeks. We cooked, cleaned, did homework, rode the tram, pilgrimaged, and played games together in a way that was even more unified than experiencing life together in a dorm.鈥� 

Art and the Church with Dr. Weichbrodt was an opportunity for growth in community and to learn together about the history of Christianity through art. For JT Gard '27, another student who was able to make the trip, it was an opportunity to practice humility in a new place. He attributes the course with helping him to solidify how small we are in comparison to our creator, allowing him to approach each day relying more heavily on God.