Day 10: Amongst Angels

Basilica San Chiara

We rose early and walked the silent streets to the far side of Assisi to the Basiica di San Chiara for 7.15 am Mass in front of the original cross of San Damiano where Francis apparently heard a call to ‘rebuild he church’. The Poor Clare community from the attached convent sung Mass out of our view behind the sanctuary.  Celebrating the feast of the Baptism of Jesus in that church amongst the singing of angels was numinous and unforgettable.  Of course the Bishop celebrated again and gave us another animated 1/2 hr homily in Italian!  Afterwards we were able to spend time reflecting on the exceptional life of Clare in the  crypt of the Basilica.  Being alone in the crypt where the tomb of St Clare is found was a poignant encounter with her spirituality.

San Damiano courtyard

on way to San Damiano

In the afternoon we walked down the hill from the walled town through an olive grove to San Damiano.  This church and monastery is where Francis and his brothers and Clare and her sisters were based and , again, contained many historical items.  The San Damiano church is the one Francis and his friends rebuilt and it was where Saint Clare died.

Maureen at Piazza del Commune

On the way home we stopped in on an exhibition of the Capuchin (one of the 3 male Franciscan religious oders)mission to Ticuna tribes in the Amazon jungle - very well done.  The Franciscans set up most of the big American cities (San Francisco) and made it to Bejing in 1305 less that 80 years after the death of Francis.  They went out with the explorers to the 'New World' from Europe and hence played a major role in European colonization - a role that they now acknowledge was not always respectful of the indigenous peoples and cultures.