Italy Trip 2016 -- Part #1

Italy Trip 2016 -- Part #1 In honor of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, I feel blessed and privileged to travel back to Italy. My friend, Tammy Pitre, asked me to travel with her on this trip. I have been with this group from the Diocese of Houma- Thibodaux four of the last five times they have traveled to Italy. We celebrate mass each day in an incredible, different church every day. Our Hotel in Assisi was located in the heart of Assisi facing the splendid entrance to the Basilica of St. Francis. On March 13, 2013, upon his election as Pope, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio chose Francis as his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, becoming Pope Francis. This was the first time that a pope has been named Francis. It has been argued that no one else in history was as dedicated as St. Francis to imitate the life, and carry out the work of Jesus. Poverty was central to his character and became the essential lifestyle for the members of the Franciscan Order. He believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. He even preached to the birds and they surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice and not one of them flew away. His statues and pictures are often portrayed with a bird, typically in his hand. St. Francis is a Patron Saint of Italy along with St. Catherine of Siena. Along the streets shopping, we found this amazing Altar Piece with Mary and Jesus in middle with St Claire on left and St Francis on right. The 16th Century Church of St Mary of the Angels is venerated as the location where St. Francis died. Nestled directly under the main dome of the church sits the “Porziuncola” – The 9th century little chapel used by St. Francis and considered the cradle of the Franciscan Order. The door to enter the chapel is the first “Holy Door” we would enter. We were unable to take any photos inside the Church. St. Francis had asked the Pope for a special plenary indulgence to be granted to all who visited the chapel. Pope Francis made this door again a Jubilee Indulgence as part of this Year of Mercy. A gold plated statue of Mary stands out against the sky on top of the church. In 1997, there was a major earthquake in Assisi with widespread devastation. The gold statue of Mary fell from the top of the church to the ground but miraculously remained unharmed. There was a heightened police presence throughout Italy due to Jubilee Year of Mercy and recent terrorist threats. Bronze Relief -- Known as the “Spirit of Assisi”. In 1986, Pope John Paul II brought together 160 religious leaders from all over the world to pray for worldwide peace in front of the Church. Pope Francis’ Coat of Arms is above the Bronze Relief with three items on a blue shield. The top is the emblem of the Jesuits with the HIS monogram of Jesus. Below the Jesuit emblem is an eight-pointed star representing the Virgin Mary. The spikenard flower to the right represents St. Joseph. The crossed keys of St. Peter represent the symbol of the papacy. The gold key is for the power in the kingdom of heaven and the silver key is for the authority of the papacy on earth. The motto on bottom in Latin for “To be shown mercy and chosen.” Front of church at night Basilica of St Francis plaque outside – UNESCO declared the Basilica of St. Francis a World Heritage site. Nativity scene in Basilica: Pace in Terre = Peace on earth. St. Francis is credited with having created the first nativity scene in history. Just before Christmas 1220, he prepared a manger with hay, had an ox and a donkey brought there, and then had a Holy Mass celebrated in front of a large crowd who came to see from all over the region. He wanted to make it easy for the faithful to understand the Mystery of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. He had visited The Holy Land a few years before this. The Franciscan Order has been recognized as “Custodians of the Holy Land’ on behalf of the Catholic Church almost uninterruptedly since 1217. There were no figures of Joseph and Mary, just the two animals. St. Francis’ simple celebration has transformed into the customary practice which has continued to today. Mass at Tomb of St Francis For the first time, ever, we celebrated mass AT the tomb of St. Francis. He died on the evening of Saturday, October 3, 1226 in the hut next to the Porziuncola, the place where it all began. His tomb was hidden on orders to protect it from the invaders. His exact burial place remained unknown until it was re-discovered in 1818. His remains were buried here in the ancient stone tomb in the Lower Basilica. The walls of the Lower Basilica were stripped of its marble decorations in honor of St. Francis’ simple lifestyle. Painting death of St Joseph There were no other known works on the Death of St. Joseph, when this painting was made in 1712 by Giuseppe Crespi. In this poor house, the aged Joseph is fading fast, Mary weeps, and the young Christ is blessing the dying man. Joseph’s carpenter tools lie scattered on the floor. Tradition and scripture are silent with regard to the death of St. Joseph. However, tradition says that St. Joseph may have died before Christ’s crucifixion and probably just before His public ministry or soon after. There is no record of a single word spoken by St. Joseph in scripture. The oddest popular custom of St. Joseph is to bury his statue upside down on real estate one hopes to sell. The Fresco is located in the Temple of Minerva an ancient Roman building built in the first century BC. It currently houses a church called Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, like the church of the same name in Rome. Sharing Pizza and bruschetta in Assisi Sienna City Center at Night Eating Gelato at Groms in Sienna Main Entrance of the oldest bank in the world in Sienna – Founded in 1472 Eucharistic Miracle in Siena 2014 On the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption in August 1730, thieves stole a ciborium containing 351 consecrated hosts. Two days later, they were found in an offering box in a nearby church suspended by cobwebs. Although the ordinary procedure would have the priests consume the hosts, due to their soiled condition, the priests allowed them to deteriorate naturally instead. At that time, Christ would no longer be present. To the amazement of the priests, the hosts did not deteriorate, but remained fresh and incorrupt with no sign of deterioration. With the passage of time, the priests became convinced they were witnessing a continuing miracle of preservation. Over the last two centuries, many examinations and tests performed found the hosts well preserved. Unleavened bread should remain intact for no more than a few years. The miraculously preserved hosts were consecrated in 1730 and have endured in a perfect state of conservation for over 250 years. Apostles on wall in Church of Siena Siena Basilica of St Catherine of San Domenico St. Catherine was born the 24th child from a family of 25 children. At the young age of 7, St. Catherine had her first of many visions of Jesus on a throne surrounded by saints. As a teenager, she took a vow of perpetual virginity and gave herself over to prayer and worship. To stop her family’s attempt to marry her off, she cut her hair off and became a nun. At the age of 29, she traveled to Avignon in an attempt to bring peace between the divided papal- states and worked to end the Western Schism of the Catholic Church. She is a Patron Saint of Italy and Europe. St. Catherine died young at the age of 33. Only her head and finger is buried in Siena. The rest of her body is buried in Rome at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1999. Panoramic of Siena City Center House of St Catherine The Benincasa family home where St. Catherine of Siena was born is now a shrine. Sacred Heart Doors Statue of St Catherine First Bank Monte Dei Pasche 11 degrees Celsius – It was COOOOLD! Panoramic of Palio Square The Palio de Siena is a medieval horse race held twice each year on July 2 and August 16 in Siena Italy. Horse and riders representing each district of the city in honor of the Assumption of Mary. The pageantry of the race attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. Picture of Race Day in Siena Dividing boundaries between districts Each district of Siena is named after an animal or symbol set up since the Middle Ages. This is the dividing line between two districts. Siena Cathedral Florence Florence is located on the Arno River and often called the “Cradle of the Renaissance” It is NOT its rebirth -- because nothing actually died. It was home to some of the greatest artists and thinkers of the time between 1300 and 1600. Gallery of the Academy of Florence Michelangelo’s Florence Pieta One of Michaelangelo’s last sculptures is the Unfinished Florence Pieta which depicts Jesus, Mary and Mary Magdalene and was probably created to decorate his own tomb. Michelangelo’s David Two of Michelangelo’s best works, the Pieta and David were sculpted before he was age 30.

Load more