As for connecting to St. Francis and digging deeper into my own faith, today was the best day so far. We first head to the hermitage on Mount Subasio. Here, maybe more than anywhere else, you can sense the life of St. Francis, his faith, and his early brothers. Assisi, the town, sits on the side of Mt. Subasio. Francis would often retreat higher up the mountain to pray. As with the other St. Francis sites, these beautiful buildings were built not long after his death. I can see why Francis would retreat here because I want to also. The woods, peace and tranquility of the space is calling to me. God’s creation truly does reveal God’s glory. I could easily spend the whole day here praying, reading, wandering, and reflecting on God. The spot with yellow flowers next to a rock inside a building is the cave that St. Francis would reside and spend time alone with God. The other caves here are spots where his early companions would retreat away. I sat outside one of these caves, praying and thanking God for St. Francis’ companions. I don’t know if I could ever be a St. Francis. His life of following Christ, living simply, and love enough for others to proclaim the joy, forgiveness, and peace of Christ. I don’t know if I could ever have a life that mirrored Christ so thoroughly that it caused others to want to follow Jesus. So here at these caves of his companions, I thanked God for their lives. History does not remember them as well as St. Francis, but maybe I could be a bit more like one of them. Maybe I could see faith so clearly in someone else that I want to follow Jesus better. The Franciscan movement would not have happened without these brothers joining Francis. Maybe, I could better join the Jesus movement in this world. God thank you for these early companions to St. Francis. I do know that like Francis and these early brothers, I do need to spend more time on my knees, more time alone with God and more time letting the grace, love and peace of God wash over me. Amber and I spent about two hours here and we could have easily spent more.
Next, Amber and I travel to San Damiano. This place is significant in both St. Clare and St. Francis’ life. Here is where St. Clare and the poor sisters lived until just after her death. Located just outside the city walls of Assisi, people would come for healing, faith, and guidance. What strikes me is that all the sisters and St. Clare slept in one room together, and in this room, St. Clare died. Today, this corner of the room is marked with a cross, candle, flowers and a sign. Near the end of her life, St. Clare’s sisters attended Christmas mass. She could not attend because she was ill even though she desperately wanted to attend and worship. When the sisters returned, they did not need to describe the service to Clare, she already knew because, in faith, God granted her the vision of being present at the service. She saw the service as if she was there. As the result of this event, the Catholic Church named St. Clare the patron saint of the television. To me, calling her the patron saint of television is clever, but it diminishes her. She was a profound woman of deep faith. She could be wonderfully stubborn on behalf of her God. Even though she lived here her entire life, Clare influenced popes, protected Assisi from invading armies, guided foreign queens in faith and profoundly inspired thousands. We may not wander far from Avon, Indiana. Sometimes, we may doubt our ability to influence the world for God’s goodness or spread God’s message and love to those who most need it. However, God can use us right where we are and that impact in God’s hands can be larger than we ever dreamed. Thus, live for God and the people around you right here in Avon, Indiana.
As stated above, this site is also significant in Francis’ life. As was stated in the post several days ago, San Domanio is where the crucifix resided that spoke to him. Today a replica cross is here as the original is in St. Clare’s basilica. San Domanio is also the first church that St. Francis began to literally rebuild and where St. Francis wrote the Canticle of the Creatures. My own faith journey, tells me that we should be more connected to God’s creation than we often are. Its beauty speaks of God. Its presence reminds of God’s continual blessings and gifts. We should never forget that we are a part of the wonderful creation. Faith in God is deepened when we see all of creation as belonging to our Lord.
Our third stop today is Rivotorto. The church of his day has been destroyed. The present church was built in 1800’s As the first companions started to follow Francis, they made an abandoned church their home. You can see the re-creation of this hut inside the vast church built around it. It was here that St. Francis and his companions left for Rome. St. Francis even as his life challenged the state of the church in his day, he was always very loyal. In fact, he taught all of his companions to greet each church they entered with this phrase: “We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches throughout all the world, and we bless You because of your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.” The priest, may be ineffective or even corrupt. The church may not live into the mission and worship of Christ as called by God. However, for St. Francis every church was God’s house where Jesus resided. Every pastor, even those not effective as they should be, were servants in the work of God. Thus for St. Francis every church and every pastor no matter their failings deserved respect and should be honored in the service of God. Thus as Francis began to live and proclaim to others the love of God, he desired for the church, the pope, to ratify and confirm his way of life. Therefore, St. Francis and his companions left their makeshift home to seek an appearance with the pope.
When St. Francis and his companions returned back to Rivotorto, another person needing a home, claimed these shacks as his own. St. Francis desiring to “own” nothing did not protest. Instead he and his early companions moved down the road into another crumbling church called Santa Maria degli Angeli. How did St. Francis and his early companions become so detached from possessions? I love my home. It’s the place I retreat to and “feel at home.” It’s also a place of security. I also possess a great deal more than a home, and I often like my things. Are they used for the glory of God or do they separate me from God? It is so easy to accumulate more stuff. Sometimes, hosting a yard sale feels so freeing. Sometimes it feels good to get rid of things to get them out of the house. Am I missing a greater freedom in God because of that which I possess. I do know I should live simpler, whatever that means.
Getting back to St. Francis, we move down the road to San Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary’s of the Angles) as this church would in many ways become the center and heart of the Franciscan movement. Today, the original St Mary’s of the Angels or Little Portion (because it was built on a small portion of land) is surrounded by a massive newer church with the same name (the 10th largest Catholic Church in the world). Looking down at the valley from Assisi, this massive structure sticks out. As you enter inside, the original chapel is engulfed by the larger church. At first sight, seeing the “Little Portion” chapel is moving. It’s a beautiful building with frescos everywhere. Thus, it does not look much like it did in St. Francis’ day as this was the third church that he literally rebuilt. I go inside and pray, wondering about my heart, my passion for God, and my desire for all to know the love of Christ. I also here wonder about my call. Am. I living into and fulfilling what God has before me? I do want to find my center, not in any place even as holy spaces are important. I want to find my center in Jesus and his calling in my life. I hope I have not lost it, but that is what this renewal is for: to be centered in God and God’s mission again. I do believe St. Francis’ life is helping me.
Behind the chapel, which in Francis’ day would have been a hut out back, but today still resides in this massive church, is where St. Francis died. When he was close to death, he requested to be brought here to the Little Portion church. The story goes that he also requested near the very for his clothes to be removed. As he entered the faith with nothing (giving everything even his clothes back to his early father) now he desired to enter heaven just as he is. We are often to unsure of ourselves to let ourselves be just who we are. However, God created you. God loves you, just as you are. We don’t need to put on airs. We don’t need to try and be who we are not. We are called to be faithful to God which does take growth for us all, but also to be the person God has created us to be in faith. GOD LOVES YOU!
Francis dies without anything even clothes on his back. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. I sit here at the place where St. Francis died and I am thankful for him. Maybe more than any other human being, he let himself follow Christ.
Today was a fantastic day. Everywhere Amber and I went, I felt God at work. I truly do want to be closer to God and more like Jesus. This is my prayer.
Amber and I end our day at a restaurant that Amber discovered in the travel book. It was delicious, and the patio view from our table was amazing. After dinner, since we are close to St. Francis basilica, we decided another night of watching the sunset there would be a perfect ending, and again it was!!!!