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    Travel » Italy » Umbria

    Assisi and St. Francis

    Published: Oct 20, 2011 · Modified: Oct 27, 2014 by Marissa Stevens · 5 Comments

    basilica-di-san-francesco

    Basilica di San Francesco and an assembly of ancient structures shape the Assisi skyline. This city does not tower above its base of earth, but mimics the hillside contour.

    Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, the son of a rich cloth merchant who came to devote himself to a life of poverty. St. Francis preached repentance and chose not to be ordained a priest, but to live as a fratres minores, a lessor brother.

    We wander this city's tidy stone streets. We linger in Piazza del Commune with its bubbling fountain and Piazza St. Chiara with its infinite view. We explore several churches, among them the Basilica di San Rufino where parts of the floor are excavated and covered by glass and the Basilica di Santa Chiara, a church dedicated to St. Clare of Assisi.

    piazza-del-commune

    piazza-st-chiara

    piazza-st-chiara-2

    walking-around-assisi walking-around-assisi-2

    But we save the Basilica of St. Francis for last. Inside, the walls and ceilings boast vibrant frescoes by Giotto. The "Basilica Inferiore", The Lower Basilica, houses the crypt of St. Francis.

    basilica-di-san-francesco-2

    basilica-di-san-francesco-3

    basilica-di-san-francesco-4

    basilica-di-san-francesco-5

    basilica-di-san-francesco-6

    basilica-di-san-francesco-7

    In the church, we page through a book and read this prayer from St. Francis:

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
    Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
    Where there is injury, pardon.
    Where there is doubt, faith.
    Where there is despair, hope.
    Where there is darkness, light.
    Where there is sadness, joy.
    O Divine Master,
    grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
    to be understood, as to understand;
    to be loved, as to love.
    For it is in giving that we receive.
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
    and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
    st-francis-statue

    More Umbria

    • Bucatini with Black Truffle
    • The Road to Rome
    • Storm the Castle
    • Day Trip to Deruta

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Thom says

      October 26, 2011 at 3:51 am

      Gosh, way behind. The most gorgeous yet! Love the pigeon/stairway shot!

      Reply
      • marissa says

        October 26, 2011 at 10:26 am

        Love that pigeon - he swooped in to my shot and made it magic.

        Reply
    2. Sharon L says

      October 20, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      I decoupaged that prayer for Gagama and Gagapa, They had it hanging for years. Now I have it. It is a beautiful prayer.

      Reply
      • marissa says

        October 21, 2011 at 9:49 am

        I'd love to see that someday..

        Reply
    3. Jenn says

      October 20, 2011 at 6:13 pm

      Speechless!!!

      Reply

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