A View into the Life of St. Francis

Today was a day to go to Pompeii, Florence, or Assisi.  I led the group that went to Assisi.  The weather colder up there.  The first thing we did was have Mass at St. Claire's Basilica in St. Agnes chapel.  This was not our St. Agnes but Clare's sister.  Stll, it felt like a conection with home.  After Mass we had lunch at a family run restaurant.  I have known them for years.  The grandchildren have now taken over the restaurant from their grandparents.   It is called "gli orti."

The local guide took the group to St. Francis Basilica.  They said he was good because he was not only knowledgable; he was a man of faith.  After some free time we went to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels to see the Porziuncola.  This is a church within a Church.  The Porziuncola was a small church that stood alone in the forest in the time of Francis.  It was in ruins and Francis started to repair it after hearing Jesus on  the cross at San Damiano tell him: "Francis, repair my Church for it is falling into ruin."  At first Fracis took this literally and started to collect stones to repair the Church at San Damiano and the Church of the Porziuncola.  Porziuncola means "little portion.  Francis died in this Church.  Aftyer his death they built the large church of St. Mary of the Angels to house the Porziuncola.

The Porziuncola was a small church that stood alone in the forest in the time of Francis. It was in ruins and Francis started to repair it...

We returned to Rome by 9:00 pm tired and happy.  The other two groups were enthisastic about their day.  This morning they are going to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's.  It is a lot of walking.  This afternoon we have Mass at St. Paul outside the Walls where Bishpop Murphy will speak on the Church as catholic.

It is my hope that this pilgrimage marking the fiftieth anniversary of our Diocese will be a moment to help everyone in our Diocese appreciate the mystery of the Catholic Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

More tomorrow.