Desert Flower in Assisi

Thursday, August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Most of us woke up at 5.45 in order to get organized for the trip to Assisi. At 6.30 we left our sleeping quarters for the train station. We got on the train in the direction of Assisi. The view was incredible and very green and the trip was fine, peaceful for most of the time and some of us tried to catch up on some of our sleep. After about two hours, we reached the train station of Assisi and there, waiting for us, were the mother and father of Brother Alberto and his uncle and aunt who had come to see him before he begins the month retreat in preparation for his final voews, a retreat he will begin as soon as we leave. Then we went to our sleeping quarters in Assisi, a guest house of the Franciscans, and we divided up into the rooms. We visited the adjoining church, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. In the church is still preserved the first church that Saint Francis repaired and which became the first Franciscan monastery during his life time. After a visit in the basilica and mass in one of the chapels – with an excellent homily by Father Apolinary – we continued on for lunch and a time of rest.

Afterwards, we began to follow his voyage to the Church of Saint Damian, in which Francis was called by God and around which was built the first convent of the Poor Clares. It was set up after the expansion of the order, after the death of Saint Clare. There we prayed evening prayer with the Sisters in the chapel in which is preserved the famous cross from which Francis heard the voice of God calling to him. All through these visits we were guided by Alberto. After the prayer, we got on a bus and went back to our sleeping quarters and ate dinner prepared by the girls in the group together with the mother of Alberto. Then we went off to bring the day to a close with evening prayer in the Basilica, presided over by a monk from the monastery. After some moments of his prayer and thanksgiving, we went back to sleep and gather strength for tomorrow.