Assisi

We decide to spend one day outside of Rome. No better place to go other than Assisi, the resting place of St. Francis, St. Claire, and St. Carlo Acutis. 

It was about a two hour train ride from Rome. That was after a five minute sustained sprint to catch the darn thing! 

Assisi is quaint, but on a hillside. 

Making everywhere we walked up hill. 

St. Francis, of the twelfth century, is the hometown hero. This is known as the St. Francis Gate.  

Beautiful, different, courtyards around this place. 

The Basilica of St. Francis was our first stop. Here his tomb is venerated. No pictures inside these holy sites. 

More walking. 

Before we stopped for lunch. 

A siesta was fitting before we carried on our journey. 

After lunch, we celebrated Mass in a side chapel of the Basilica of St. Claire, where her body lies in state. We also visited St. Mary Major church, where St. Carlo’s body rests. This was neither of those churches, but was near by. 

Our last stop was the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, down the hill from the other big churches. This basilica houses the Portiuncula, the little church that St. Francis prayed in a lot and was the Franciscan original headquarters. Cool stuff. 

If we were in Italy, we needed to checkout Assisi. Just the number of saints entombed here, speaks of the holiness of the place. We were not disappointed. Hopefully, our deepened friendship with these holy members of the Body of Christ, will entice them to intercede more powerfully on our behalf. Regardless, their example of Christian virtue is inspiring, Ranching on.