Assisi. is a beautiful medieval town sitting half way up Mt. Subusio. The small, narrow steep streets first led us to the Basilica of St. Clare. Inside this basilica is the Chapel of the Crucifix which displays the crucifix which spoke to Francis. As St. Francis prayed before this crucifix, Jesus asked him to rebuild His Church. As you gaze upon this cross, you can't help but be caught up in that moment. I imagine St. Francis' heart must have filled with great joy and love as he tried to understand what Jesus was calling him to do.
Next we entered the large Basilica of St. Francis. The upper church was flanked with large frescoes telling the story of St. Francis' life. As we descended into the lower chapel we could hear a group singing "Make me a channel of your peace.." in Italian. It was if the spirit of St. Francis himself was inviting us to come closer. The lower chapel displayed the garments of St. Francis and St. Clare and also St. Francis' brevery. His tomb was in the middle of an enclosed glass wall which reached all the way up to the upper church. Around St. Francis' tomb were also those of his friends. As we circled his tomb his peace seemed to linger in the air and you could almost feel the love these men had for Christ and one another.
After exploring the town of Assisi and imagining St. Francis walking these same streets, we continued traveling up Mt. Subusio to Eremo Delle Carceri. This monastery is the home of the caves that St. Francis and his friars prayed, meditated, and lived. You can actually walk through St. Francis' cave which then leads out to an area (marked by a statue) where St. Francis gazed at the stars. Many paths led in and out of this wooded area where St. Francis taught his friars. We passed a rough alter made out of giant stone with surrounding smaller stones for seats.
We decided to sit and meditate here as St. Francis may have done. Here in the quiet of the forest, with God's beauty all around, I discovered that freedom within. I thought about how St. Francis gave away all that he possessed. I thought about how difficult that would be for me to do. But I think if you gave away all your possessions and sat in these woods meditating on God--His encompassing love and everlasting peace--away from the world's worries and worldliness you would be free. You would be free to just dwell in God's love. I sat there placing myself in God's presence and imagining being a follower of St. Francis and it was in this moment that I felt truly free.
