Today is Columbus Day in the U.S. but for me it’s a day to learn from Saint Francis. We are in Assisi, the first place in Italy where we’ve seen lots of people practicing their Catholic faith.
I’ve never seen a monk in a brown robe and sandals, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen groups of little nuns in habits. Assisi is an important pilgrimage for them, and for me too.
We have visited so many churches. Since I was not raised with a strong religious education, and I consider myself a nonbeliever, I feel a little left out of the mystery. I have to look for meaning in these churches, and it comes via art and architecture. In the ornate and ostentatious basilicas and the humble chapels, I’ve seen visuals of the sacred stories and saints, and realized that these paintings and statues tell and keep the stories alive, even for those who could not read. Rick Steves calls the Giotto paintings in the Basilica of St. Francis “Bibles of the Poor.”
We toured the upper level of the Basilica, looking at the sequential paintings of St. Francis’ life. We were both attracted to “St. Francis Sermon to the Birds.”
My knowledge of St. Francis was limited to those garden statues where he communicated with the animals but the frescoes showed his other adventures and good works. I learned that he tried to follow Christ through obedience, chastity and poverty, and that he added nature to the religious experience. But my big surprise came in the English section of the bookstore when I looked at prayers written by St. Francis that are so familiar:
Lord make me an instrument of thy peace…
And
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace and mercy.
A friend recently shared the idea that a prayer is any wish for the well-being of others, forgiveness, or a good work or kindness. I realized that I make these prayers every day. So while I’m not a person who would conventionally be called a Christian, I’m in good company with Saint Francis and all of these pilgrims here in Assisi.
Katy’s Blog Trip to Europe 2019 
Giotto is just about my favourite early Italian artist. Exquisite tenderness and delicate tones……when i lived in Florence for two months all those years ago it was Giotto and his ilk that turned me on to art. I can never see one of those paintings or frescoes without coming close to tears at the sheer beauty. That’s where the divine is for me.
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Do you have any recommendations for Florence?
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In Florence, the architecture drove me to the edge. Esp the Duomo. Sigh.
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Have you met up with St Clare? She was an early follower of St Francis (well, of course they weren’t saints yet). She started an order called “The Order of Poor Ladies.” Katy I’m trying to make contact w/you. I sent an email! xoxoxo Claire
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I visited S Chiara today. It was great to talk to you.
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St. Francis would be grateful to have you in his company! You are a dear, kind, loving and generous person!
Miss your friendship and those frequent casserolls of Eagle River days.
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Thanks for your thoughtful and informative review on visiting Assisi. That second prayer is one I know well, but had no idea about its origin.
Just catching up on your blog after a weekend at college with Sarah.
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