The flat area around Rome gave way to hills dotted with small towns anchored to their slopes and valleys filled with olive orchards and fields of sunflowers. Then we saw the unmistakable profile of the Basilica of St. Francis flanking the hillside city of Assisi. What an inspirational scene.
We thought we would be able to quickly catch a bus to travel the final two miles, but as we we have come to learn, Italian buses are undependable. First bus was 10 minutes late and full. Another one quickly showed up though and we were on our way.
We got to the Basilica in time to celebrate Mass. It was said in Italian, but you could hear the responses in several different languages. Really neat how all these fellow Catholics from all over the globe couldn't carry on a conversation with each other, but in celebrating the Eucharist could fully understand each other.
After Mass we decided to take the little bus up to the top of the hill and walk down. Again, bus was unreliable, but we got there finally. While riding up we thought Six Flags Amusement Parks ought to turn that bus trip with that driver into a ride. It was better than most roller coasters.
At the top we found our maps were bad and we were way behind our time schedule to get back to the train station for the ride home. We persevered and made our way down visiting the church St. Francis was baptized in ( San Rufino), the church built in honor of his pupil and founder of the first female convent (St. Clare), a former roman pagan Temple of Minerva now a Catholic Church (The Church of Santa Maria sopra (over) Minerva), the plaza where St. Francis gave up all his worldly possessions, and the small quaint little church whose bells miraculously rang when St. Francis died (Santa Stefano) all while strolling through this beautiful medieval town on the side of a small mountain. It was all breathtaking.
As we made our way to the Basilica of St. Francis, we began to hear what we thought was thunder. We brushed the thought aside though because we had been told many times that it only very rarely rained in Italy, especially Rome, in July. After a short break for shopping, we headed into the Basilica of St. Francis and it was none too soon. As we approached the doors, it began to sprinkle and by the time we got inside it rained. It rained like one of those Texas thunderstorms that brings an inch or two an hour. In fact, if we had to guess Assisi received well over an inch of rain during the two hours we toured the Basilica. In addition the temp dropped several degrees which made for a nice change.
The Basilica was amazing. The paintings and sculptures were so un-Francis-like. They weren't gaudy, but were beautiful, yet simple. In the lower Basilica we were able to visit St. Francis' tomb where he is buried with four of his closest brothers and before leaving were able to find the now famous Aggie Madonna. Yes, we found the fresco with the Virgin Mary holding Christ in one arm and giving the "Gig'em" sign with her thumb in the other. Father Michael Sis found it on a visit several years ago and it has become so popular St. Mary's in College Station used the picture on the Christmas cards last year and now the bookstore at the Basilica of St. Francis has not one, but two prayer cards featuring that fresco.
It was a quick trip back down the hill by bus. About a 45 minute wait for the train to arrive and a two plus hour trip home.
We thought we would be able to quickly catch a bus to travel the final two miles, but as we we have come to learn, Italian buses are undependable. First bus was 10 minutes late and full. Another one quickly showed up though and we were on our way.
We got to the Basilica in time to celebrate Mass. It was said in Italian, but you could hear the responses in several different languages. Really neat how all these fellow Catholics from all over the globe couldn't carry on a conversation with each other, but in celebrating the Eucharist could fully understand each other.
After Mass we decided to take the little bus up to the top of the hill and walk down. Again, bus was unreliable, but we got there finally. While riding up we thought Six Flags Amusement Parks ought to turn that bus trip with that driver into a ride. It was better than most roller coasters.
At the top we found our maps were bad and we were way behind our time schedule to get back to the train station for the ride home. We persevered and made our way down visiting the church St. Francis was baptized in ( San Rufino), the church built in honor of his pupil and founder of the first female convent (St. Clare), a former roman pagan Temple of Minerva now a Catholic Church (The Church of Santa Maria sopra (over) Minerva), the plaza where St. Francis gave up all his worldly possessions, and the small quaint little church whose bells miraculously rang when St. Francis died (Santa Stefano) all while strolling through this beautiful medieval town on the side of a small mountain. It was all breathtaking.
As we made our way to the Basilica of St. Francis, we began to hear what we thought was thunder. We brushed the thought aside though because we had been told many times that it only very rarely rained in Italy, especially Rome, in July. After a short break for shopping, we headed into the Basilica of St. Francis and it was none too soon. As we approached the doors, it began to sprinkle and by the time we got inside it rained. It rained like one of those Texas thunderstorms that brings an inch or two an hour. In fact, if we had to guess Assisi received well over an inch of rain during the two hours we toured the Basilica. In addition the temp dropped several degrees which made for a nice change.
The Basilica was amazing. The paintings and sculptures were so un-Francis-like. They weren't gaudy, but were beautiful, yet simple. In the lower Basilica we were able to visit St. Francis' tomb where he is buried with four of his closest brothers and before leaving were able to find the now famous Aggie Madonna. Yes, we found the fresco with the Virgin Mary holding Christ in one arm and giving the "Gig'em" sign with her thumb in the other. Father Michael Sis found it on a visit several years ago and it has become so popular St. Mary's in College Station used the picture on the Christmas cards last year and now the bookstore at the Basilica of St. Francis has not one, but two prayer cards featuring that fresco.
It was a quick trip back down the hill by bus. About a 45 minute wait for the train to arrive and a two plus hour trip home.
New sidewalk cafe when we got home after 8:30. We are really getting used to this late night meals - Italians typically don't eat dinner until after 7:30 - 8:00. Got home well after 10:00 where we washed our clothes and our bodies. We quickly realized that walking through the hilltop town of Assisi wore us out and killed our muscles more than we anticipated, but it felt so good to have seen such wonders.
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