Sea Gull on top of Angel with the Sudarium by Bernini's student Cosimo Fancelli (1669) Photo: Steve Gould, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Rome

Angel with the Sudarium Enlightened masters Memling and Escher on exhibits in Rome, and my friend Steve is there immersed in medieval & modern art. Crossing Tiber River on a pedestrian bridge, he sees ten angel sculptures by Bernini showing scenes from Stations of the Cross. He sends me a photograph of a sea gull on top of the Angel with the Sudarium or sweat cloth— it's Veronica's Veil cited by Dante in Paradiso 31.104 on pilgrims going to Croatia to see this relic bearing the image of Christ. Birds symbolize the soul— and this sea gull has made a wise choice landing on the head of the angel bearing the image of truth. Bird whispers to the Angel— "Let's ascend to Heaven together" and the Angel replies: "All roads lead to Rome and this is my home. Heaven is not up there above the clouds but right down here on earth experienced by those who live a pure blessèd life."               Peter Y. Chou               Mountain View, 1-25-2015