Reflection by: Cordelia
Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 12 – Siena/Florence
We departed from Siena and made our way to Florence, a city that boasts 150 churches.
We began the day in the biggest Francsican church in Italy, the Church of Santa Croce, where, fun fact, many famous nobles were buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Over the centuries Santa Croce has become a “lieu de mémoire “, the Pantheon of an entire nation. Initially housing the graves of Franciscan friars however, an increasing number of members of the neighbourhood’s wealthy and powerful families whose donations had made it possible to build and decorate the complex also came to be buried there, now it currently houses over 264 tombs.
During mass at Santa Croce the gospel really resonated with me.
From Matthew 18:12-14, suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
At different stages of life we experience and encounter varying life events such as discernment, career pathway, marriage or single life,etc. Likewise, prior to this pilgrimage I had struggles in defining my relationship with god.
Assisi and especially La Verna was when I really felt the presence of god. I felt a form of connection to St Francis through the reality of his struggles. It isn’t easy to just follow Christ and leave everything behind but even then the lord prevailed for him and showed him love.
This gives me a reassuring sense of hope that the God that pulled St Francis through his suffering is the same God that is going to help me through this journey of life.
Referencing to the Gospel, this serves as a timeless affirmation. Mirroring the shepherd’s commitment to finding the one lost sheep, God remains steadfast in guiding us back to His flock, ensuring us that we are not left astray. As we traverse through Siena, Florence, Venice, Padua, and Milan, and eventually return to our daily lives, we must remember that the world is our cloister, and God always has a plan for us.
After mass, we indulged in a delightful exploration of Florence, beginning with Piazza Signoria. This square hosts the city’s most important symbol, Palazzo Vecchio, adorned with grandiose Greek art — boasting 3000 paintings, including works by the renowned Michelangelo. Subsequently, we marvelled at the Duomo, also known as the house of God, Santa Maria del Fiore, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century, followed by the majestic Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery.
In moments of reflection, I find solace in Jeremiah 29:11 says, for surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not to harm, to give you a future with hope.
