Reflection by: Cheryl
Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 7 – Assisi
Our journey following the life of St. Francis continues in a little portion of the forest in the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels. The Portiuncula is a small Benedictine chapel St. Francis rebuilt, which he dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels. This chapel soon became the Mother Church for the Franciscan friars, where the order was founded. It was here that St. Francis understood his vocation and renounced the world to live in poverty among the poor, and hence started the Franciscan movement. It is also where St. Francis died in 1226. The Portiuncula Indulgence was granted here for the salvation of souls and for people to know God’s mercy.
The Basilica of St Mary of the Angels also houses the thornless rose bush. When St. Francis was tempted by the Devil, he reportedly rolled in the briar bush which then turned into a thornless rose bush. Since then, the rose bushes grown in the garden have remained thornless. There is also a statue of St. Francis to mark the spot where he talked to the doves, and to this day, white turtle doves continue to nest in this statue.
We had the opportunity to celebrate mass and spend some quiet time in prayer at the Basilica, where I felt invited to ponder more on the life of our blessed Mother, whom St. Francis had a fervent devotion to. During mass and reflecting on the image of the annunciation in The Portiuncula, I was reminded of her faith and obedience to God’s will. Looking to the example of Mary, I seek to learn to cooperate with God’s grace and allow Him to work through me to fulfil His will. Especially in the times when I am afraid, I pray for courage to also say to God ‘Let it be done to me according to your word’.
“May you cling to this most sweet Mother who bore such a Son as the heavens could not contain” – St. Clare
In the afternoon, we visited the Eremo delle Carceri Hermitage where St. Francis and his disciples came here to pray and meditate, it is at this location where they immersed into the silence and the spirituality of the nature. Each of them had their own cave (‘speco’) where they would spend time in solitude and prayer. To St. Francis, the cave was a place of intimacy with God, and the stone symbolised Christ as his stronghold and fortress. As I walked along the path in the Hermitage, I felt a sense of peace and joy being surrounded by nature whilst admiring its beauty.
Today, God revealed to me that He was in the gentle breeze and not the strong gusts of wind through the comfort I found in the silence of prayer. Sometimes, it is in the quiet and secluded areas (or caves) that we may find the Lord speaking to us.