Rome Day 3: Beautiful Assisi

Today we went to the beautiful town of Assisi.  I had no idea how magical this medieval town was.  It is built into the side of a mountain like Minus Tiruth in Lord of the Rings.   I kept waiting for Gandolph to gallop by on his way up to the Citadel.  And the region around it is gorgeous countryside with stone houses, sheep, olive trees, and mighty snow capped mountains in the distance.  It's what I picture Tuscany to be like.

 Once again Tucker was blessed to be able to serve at the altar in the bottom of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

His little feet didn't touch the floor.  It was so precious.  

The Basilica is at one end of the city and you just wind your way up, up, and up into the rest of the narrow city streets.  

 Mi Familia at the Basilica- it is a 13th century Gothic cathedral.  They wouldn't let us take pitures inside, but it is gorgeous and so colorful.  All the frescoes that fill every wall were done by Giotto. 

 Here's a picture of the inside from wiki-

 And we were able to visit St. Francis of Assisi's tomb-

The views from this high city are as pretty looking out as looking in-

We walked all through the town (uphill) to find Father's favorite pizza place from when he lived here.  :)   There were so many cute shops and bakeries.  They are known for their meringues and ceramics. 

The restauarant was WONDERFUL and truly a hole in the wall along a set of stairs.  

See the giant meringues on top?!  We stopped here and let the children have gelato.

This ancient building used to be a Roman temple to Minerva.  It is now a Church.

This Church is built at the site of St. Francis' home.  He wanted to leave his wealthy home and belong only to Christ in poverty and charity.  His father forbid it and locked him up in their home!  His mother set him free.   While we visited this church a Franciscan Brother from Assisi gave us a talk on this history of the church and what it has all meant to him.  He had the sweetest accent and I loved when he said, "We are all searching for Joy- and that is Christ- it is His other name."

Statues of his parents with his mother holding the chains she broke.  

The place where he was imprisoned in his home-

We then made our way to the beautiful Basilica di Santa Chiara- or the Basilica of St. Clare.  She was a beautiful noble girl who left all her riches and suiters and joined St. Francis in his mission of poverty, chastity and obedience.  She formed the order the "Poor Clares," who to this day live an austere and prayerful life.  I was so excited to see her.

Our tour guide always giving us so much information-

Tucker is behaving very well, but he is still a 9-year-old boy.  He chases pigeons and runs around fountains, and I love it.  

Walking to the tomb of St. Clare-

I head heard that they had saved her blonde curly hair and was amazed to see it in real life.  This hair is still beautiful almost 800 years later!

I didn't see this today, but I've always loved the image of the white dress she was wearing when she left the world- to the right of her beautiful dress is the brown habit she took on in poverty.

Father made a good point in his homily today.  While St. Francis and St. Clare lived in utter poverty and never owned anything, they insisted on the finest things to meet the dignity of the worship of God.  Fine gold vessels, fine linens, beautiful vestments.   St. Francis has his brother go through the countryside and help parish priests repair or replace their liturgical gear.  This is a simple alb that St. Clare sewed for a priest.  (He would wear it underneath his chasable so it was not even seen, but still detailed).    It is so fine and lovely still.  

Also located in St. Clare's Basilica is the famous San Damiano crucifix that spoke to St. Francis while he was praying.  It said, "Go repair my Church, which you see is falling completely in ruin."  The Pope at the time even had a dream where a church was falling and St. Francis was holding it up.  At first St. Francis took the message to mean he needed to physically restore the church buildings, but in time it was clear that Jesus wanted him to repair the Church militant. 

Sunset from Assisi- just heavenly!

The girls and several of the tour group walked down the hill to see San Damiano chapel- the little church where St. Francis was praying when the crucifix spoke.  The rest of us were too tired to keep walking!

Our last stop of the evening was the GORGEOUS, amazing Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.  It is the famous Church built on top of a 9th century church where St. Francis decided to renounce the world. 

 

Inside the smaller church, known as the Porziuncola.  This is essentially where the Franciscan movement began.  

It was another beautiful and exhausting day.  I am so grateful to have seen so much and "know" St. Francis and St. Clare so much better now.  Goodnight!