Piazza of St. Francis and Valley Below
Today we went to visit the swamp mentioned in yesterday’s homily. It’s not a swamp anymore, but actually a small town in it’s own right. This is where St. Francis was given his first church by the Benedictines. That little church, called the Portiuncula or “Little Portion,” is today preserved inside the much larger church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, St. Mary of the Angels.
The Portiuncula Church
Just behind the Portiuncula church is a little chapel that makes the spot where St. Francis died. Inside are a piece of the cloth from his religious habit, symbol of poverty, and also the cincture that he wore about his waist to symbolize chastity.
Part of the Habit of St. Francis
The Cincture of St. Francis
After spending the morning at St. Mary of the Angels we came back up into the city and visited the Basilica of St. Francis. The heart of this church is the crypt that contains the body of St. Francis and his early Franciscan brothers. At the time St. Francis died, this area was outside the city and really a sort of dump. This is where St. Francis personally chose to be buried. Today it is a beautiful pilgrim site for the thousands who come each year to venerate the relics of the “little poor man” of Assisi.
Basilica of St. Francis
In the afternoon we took a special trip up the large hill behind the town of Assisi to the hermitage built by St. Francis. He and the brothers would often come up here and stay alone in complete silence for months at a time. It was such a beautiful and peaceful place that you could see why he wouldn’t want to come down.
The Hermitage of St. Francis
After a long day of tracing the footsteps of St. Francis, I had some time to spend praying back at the Basilica. The church is very famous for its frescoes. One of them is considered by those who knew Francis to be the one that most looks like the saint appeared in life. A great way to end to the day.
Fresco of St. Francis