Reflections by: Eden Leow, Ashwin Pandiyan, Aaron Dhavanar, Jonah Kwek
SMOTA
It was clear from our first visit to SMOTA that we needed at least another day to take in the simple majesty of this Basilica. There just didn’t seem to be enough time to take in everything. From the doves that roosted just off the statue of St Francis, to the roses that did not grow thorns, God’s footprints were evident everywhere. I chose to spend my morning seated in front of the Porziuncola.
Referred to by Father JP as the crown jewel of the Basilica and the heart of the Franciscan Spirituality, this humble church within the Basilica is as unassuming as a church can be. From the outside, it would be impossible to tell that this was the location in which things that dramatically changed the course of salvation history occurred. And yet there it was, simple, profound and available, just like the Father’s love.
I sat outside with a million thoughts running through my mind all at once. There was so much in the past I still had to deal with and even more fear about what the future held. It’s hard to pretend my trust in God’s constant desire for our life’s good was not tested. But here in front me, was such an incredible testament to his faithfulness. I was reminded that Francis himself was searching for more, probably confused and anxious. He probably did not know what his life would become at that point. And yet, here we are over 800 years later, recognising the Grace poured out into his life. If there’s anything that the Porziuncola reminded me, it’s that He has a plan and I have a purpose.
Perugia
After our church visit, we went on to explore the ancient city of Perugia that was a short 30 minute drive away. It is the capital city of the Umbrian region. As we made our way into the underground tunnels, Friar Derrick enlightened us on the history of the region – it was originally ruled by the Baglioni family, but they were forced to surrender the city to the Papacy during the salt war. The legacy of the noble family however still remains – with many high, mighty towers and arches still standing throughout the city and ancient walkways to the family houses being adapted to modern day underground tunnels.
Friar Derrick then told us about the roles the different Franciscan orders play in the management of the city. For instance, the Conventual Friars take care of the convents that look after the city, the Minores look after the people on the outskirts and the abandoned, and the Capuchins look after those in the mountains and hermitages. Despite the official split in 1517 among the Conventuals and Observants, I was happy to see the different branches of Franciscan brothers complementing each other to cater to various groups of people in various walks of life. One can also hope that these branches can be reunited in due time; in 2017, the 3 branches decided to walk towards reunification starting with the Antonianum, which houses all 3 branches of Franciscans under its wing to study a common curriculum.
Next, we went on to the Cathedral of St. Lawrence which is reputed to hold the sacred wedding ring of the virgin. But due to the value of the ring and its attempted thefts before, the opening of the chapel, the safe and the reliquary is said to require a whopping 14 keys that are kept by different people! As such, the engagement ring was not available to be seen, but it nevertheless serves as an important reminder particularly among married couples. In line with this, Friar Derrick invited the couples on the trip to renew their vows during the presence of the ring. Having a front view of this while being a single was certainly interesting but it also helped me to desire relationships especially friendships that are centred on love as pure and selfless as what Jesus offers us. The prominence of the cathedral extends way beyond this however, as St Francis is also said to have come here after the miracle of the roses to ask the then Pope to grant the Porziuncola indulgence.
Convento di Monteripido
The church and convent stand on the site of the hermitage on Monteripido in which the Blessed Giles lived for some 30 years. The relics and the sarcophagus are now in the Oratorio di San Bernardino, which is the room where St Bernardine stayed. Monteripido, due to the action of San Bernadino, became a headquarters for the action of renewal of the Franciscan Order. Many protagonists of the religious and civil history of the 15th-Century such as San Giovanni da Capestrano, San Giacomo della Marca, blessed Alberto da Sarteano and blessed Bernadino da Feltre lived here in the past, and called this their homes. The project Monti di Pietà was also founded in this hermitage in 1462, which sought to free the poor from the oppression of usury.
This small little area is inhabited by some Friars, with our very own Friar Derrick staying here for 5 months in 2016. As I walked through the facility, I was introduced to a door which led to a steep decline. This is the path that had to be climbed on foot daily to get around the facility. I can imagine that even though it was physically demanding, the tranquility and beauty of the path was nourishing to the soul. We then proceeded to a large library which looked like it came straight out of the movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’, filled with old books and traditional writings, a place that is indeed rich with history! Imagine the privilege of having access to all of these books and learning about the rich history of the church, and reading about theology. We then celebrated Mass at the chapel before making our way back to Assisi.
Today was an extremely interesting and restful day, and we look forward to more experiences in the coming days, as we wrap up our journey in Assisi!