Up early for some work before mass at St Clare’s.
I didn’t realize yesterday that it’s a cloistered convent too. The sisters are in a different section of the church. I could hear their singing. It was beautiful!
And the original crucifix of San Damiano is here!
Side note on it: last year I decided I need a crucifix in my house. I have crosses but none with Jesus on them. I searched a good 6 months for the right one. I started seeing this painted cross with other figures around Jesus on the cross. After some googling I find out it’s the cross of San Damiano. This became famous because St Francis was praying in front of this crucifix when he got the message from God to rebuild the church. Legend goes that the physical church was crumbling and Francis spent the next 2 years rebuilding it before realizing God meant the Church as in people. Then others say he did know what God meant but needed those 2 years to prepare spiritually. Either way. He got to work! And I have a small replica of that cross in my house now to pray in front of each morning.
This is that cross. Courtesy google search because no photos allowed.
Description of the Crucifix:
Above Christ's head: His Ascension to the Father.
In the middle of the horizontal beam: Christ triumphant with eyes wide open.
On each side of the horizontal beam: Two Angels and a saint.
Under Christ's right arm: St. John and the Virgin Mary.
Under Christ's left arm: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and the centurion.
At Christ's feet: Blood washes six unidentified saints. A small cockrel is visible near to his left leg.
Ok back to the day…
100% chance of rain today. My prayer: please Lord hold off the rain while we’re walking around.
Is a hearty breakfast not a European thing? I normally don’t eat until later but am hungry today because I had half a sandwich for supper last night. I need some meat. The bread is good but a burger or slab of bacon sounds amazing right now.
Pistachios count as protein right? In my quest for bacon I find this cafe.
The sweet compliments the cafe americano (coffee) well! It’ll work for now.
I booked a guided tour today. Maura knows all the history and took me through the life is St Francis.
The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels
I can't find a doc online to confirm but I think this was names St Mary of the Angels because St. Francis had a vision of Mary surrounded by angels... If memory serves.
This papal basilica was built around the chapel of Porziuncola that Francis started his order in. Originally it was surrounded by trees. A tiny modest chapel.
No photos so here’s one courtesy Joe on Pinterest:
Quick St Francis highlights:
He Preached to animals. They would gather around him from birds to wolves and listen to him preach the gospel the good news that God is real and loves each. One. Of. Us. Yeah, even you He created on purpose so you could know and love Him!
When tempted to abandon his rule of life (poverty, chastity, obedience), he threw himself into bramble bushes to escape the torment and it turned into a bed of thornless roses. There’s a thornless rose garden there now.
In 1223 he created the First nativity scene with live people to spread the gospel message. Baby Jesus was played by a doll that miraculously cried out! People converted that day.
He was the first saint to receive the Stigmata just 2 years before he died. The stigmata are the 5 wounds of Jesus: hands, feet and side. Doctors examined him and confirmed it was a miracle. While painful for him, he united himself to Christ’s suffering in a very special way.
San Damiano Church
This is where Francis got the call to rebuild the Church. And where he wrote the Canticle of Creation. https://www.laudatosi.org/the-letter/the-canticle-of-creatures/
It also became the first convent for St Clare and her followers.
Highlights of St Clare:
The town was under attack! The enemy was about to climb in a window to the convent. She got up from her sickbed and held the monstrance (the vessel that holds the Eucharist) in the window and prayed for God to save them. The enemy retreated and left the whole town alone. Paintings show her holding up a monstrance and light shining brightly to ward off the oncoming army.
This is that window!
Here’s where the sisters had mass.
And where they slept.
And here’s a statue of her with the monstrance when she prayed for God to save their town.
Basilica of St Clare
Built in later 1200s in honor of the local saint. This became the home of the convent for the Poor Clare’s. Buttresses had to be added 100 years later so the church wouldn’t break in two. Earthquakes are common and the land is unstable.
Original San Damiano cross is in the side chapel here.
Here are photos of the inside.
More St Clare highlights:
She prayed and 1 loaf of bread fed 50 sisters.
Once she was too ill to attend Mass. the saw a vision of the mass on her wall and was able to describe in detail who all was there’s. For this she’s named the patron saint of TV.
Next we Zigzag up the mountain in a car to the hermitage made of caves that dates back to before St Francis.
The Hermitage of Carceri in Assisi
This picture is for you Fr Jim! There are flowers blooming even though it’s so cold. (Fr Jim doesn’t like fake flowers because they aren’t authentic. There’s beauty in the real thing because of its lifecycle. I appreciate real flowers more hearing his reasoning!)
To give you an idea of the size…
Here’s where Francis slept. And he used a rock for a pillow.
The sacristy (the place every church has to prepare for mass). I’m one of our sacristans back home. This is giving me ideas for remodeling ours.
The hermitage is still occupied by friars and includes trails around the mountain for meditation.
This is the emblem of Saint Bernardino a famous Franciscan from 1400s. Nicknamed the other St Paul because of his fervor for preaching.
“Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek—in Gothic letters on a blazing sun. This was to displace the superstitious symbols of the day, as well as the insignia of factions: for example, Guelphs and Ghibellines. The devotion spread, and the symbol began to appear in churches, homes and public buildings. Opposition arose from those who thought it a dangerous innovation. Three attempts were made to have the pope take action against him, but Bernardine’s holiness, orthodoxy, and intelligence were evidence of his faithfulness.” - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-bernardine-of-siena/
The original symbol didn’t have the cross in the H. It was added when people started questioning if he was a heretic. Sometimes logo updates are needed to clarify your message. 😉
I also learned he’s the patron saint of advertising and communications, my line of work!
Devil’s Hole: legend says Br Rufino was tempted so he chased the Devil away down through this hole.
See Part 2 for the rest of the tour!
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