Today, I am starting my three to four week long pilgrimage in Italy, following the footsteps of St. Francis (1181-1226). My point if departure was the sanctuary La Verna in Tuscany, where I also stayed overnight.
Basilica of La Verna
Basilica, where the robe, the staff and other utensils of St. Francis are stored and can be seen.
Piazza in front of the Basilica
The whole place is magical!
The sanctuary is built on vertical rocks by Andrea della Robbia, who also created masterworks of ceramic reliefs.
Crucifixion in the Capella delle Stimmate. I love the the depiction of brother sun and brother wind referring to his Canticle of the sun compised by St. Francis.
I was mostly intrigued by the wild, archaic nature the sanctuary is surrounded.
Stairs were leading down into the canyon of Sasso Spicco. It is believed that at the entrance the cabin if St. Francis once stood.
In the morning, I climbed to the top of Mt. Penna, referred as the most sacred mountain on earth. It truly has a special energy.
Masso di Friar ( brother rock)
After leaving this fantastic place, I hiked down to Pieve Santo Stefano, a tiwn along the Tiber. For about 6 hours, the path was leading me through silent forests, and open meadows I passed bushes of blackberries, ripe, black elderberries sloes and rose hip. All the time the yellow sign of the Tau showed the way.
Pieve Santo Stefano
Like on all my pilgrimages, I take poems wih me. This poem by Mary Oliver is one if my favorite:
The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
It would be great if you could walk with me.
This pilgrimage appeals to me like no other….love St. Francis.
It is truly a special pilgrimage! What an inspirational person St. Francis was- one can feel it on the walk. You would love it, Ron! Love, Traude
Yes, the message of St. Francis of living in simplicity, humility and peace is now more than ever needed. Love to you, Traude
Auf nach Assisi! Alles Liebe und Gute! Eva
Assisi ist jeder Moment – ein fantastischer Weg! Er würde dir auch gefallen. Alles Liebe, Traude