Chiesa Nuova and a Walk in the Rain ~ Assisi

It was December 10th, last year, and it had begun to rain in Assisi.

I decided to take a walk, and to make my way down Chiesa Nuova.

Chiesa Nuova

built in 1651

On the presumed site of the birth of Saint Francis

and his family home.

Piazza Chiesa Nuova

Below, a sculpture of the parents of Saint Francis of Assisi.

His father, Pietro di Bernardone, is said to have chained his son and locked him up, out of anger and frustration, after Francis started living a life of poverty and, by his father's standards, was acting crazy. The story goes, that his mother set him free.

At some point, Francis also sold off some of his father's textiles, for money to repair the church of San Damiano, which also did not go over well. (This is a great understatement, as he hauled him off, in front of the town, to the Bishop Palace.)

Franciscan Choir of Assisi … the bells come first. 

This spot, "by tradition," is where his father is said to have locked up Francis.

Remember, it was Christmastime, and little manger scenes, or "precipe," had popped up, all over Italy. I thought this one, especially charming.

Presepe Napoletano nella Chiesa Nuova

The whole purpose of life
is to make God a reality.
~ Hazrat Inayat Khan

A door through the back of the church ...

... leads you to where Francis' father had the warehouse, for his business.

It was a Monday and it was so quiet. The big "festa" was over, and there was only the sound of rain.

Francis' father's warehouse room ...

One of my favorite art pieces, depicting Saint Francis and Saint Claire. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the artist's name but isn't it beautiful?

The mystic has one moral 
and that is love.

~Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

Pax et Bonum

or

Pace e Bene

These words are seen everywhere, in Assisi, and in other Franciscan places, including churches, with the latin Pax et Bonum. 

It translates to "Peace and Good(ness) be with you!" and is what Francis would proclaim as he'd enter a new town, to which he would preach, with great charisma. 

… and then back out onto the streets of Assisi …

Out in the rain, I made my way toward the Basilica of San Francesco. 

excerpts from 

Song of The Rain 

by Kahlil Gibran

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven

By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn

Her fields an valleys.

I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the 

Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn

To embellish the gardens.

When I cry the hills laugh;

When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;

When I boy, all things are elated.

My Mom and I have spent several evenings, online, looking at properties in Italy, including Assisi. There was a beautiful little place built prior to 1500, in this neighborhood, that was amazing. I figured out the general area on Google street maps. (Gotta have a little fantasy in life!)

The field and the cloud are lovers 

And between them I am a messenger of mercy.

I quench the thirst of the one;

I cure the ailment of the other.

… I emerge from the heart of the sea and

Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in

Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and

The trees in a million little ways.

I touch gently at the windows with my 

Soft fingers, and my announcement is a

Welcome song. All can hear, but only

The sensitive can understand.

… I am the sigh of the sea;

the laughter of the field;

The tears of heaven.

So with love -

Sighs from the deep sea of affection;

Laughter from the colorful field of the spirit;

Tears from the endless heaven of memories.

~ Kahlil Gibran

from Song of the Rain

Love alone is the fountain

from which all virtues fall

as drops of sparkling water.

~Hazrat Inayat Khan

My favorite place in Assisi, strange as it sounds, is the tomb of Saint Francis, under the lower basilica. The energy is peaceful, yet somehow alive with an intensity that I cannot find words for. It's solemn in the room, but somehow the opposite is true, as well. A peaceful joy.   

The candles are always glowing and you can walk around the tomb. In the four corners of the room, four of his brothers were buried, but not until 1932. They were Brother Angelo, Brother Masseo, Brother Rufino, and Brother Leo. 

A woman, Jacopa di Settesoli, a very close friend of Francis and a widow, is buried near the entrance, when you come down the stairs. She was an honorary brother and he would call her "Brother Jacopa."

In a week, this will all have been a whole year ago! I can't believe it. I miss Assisi but in a way, it's always with me. 

Next up … a place called Paradiso.

Blessings and light!

Calendimaggio ... beam me up!!!

I can't believe it's been a whole year! If I could pull a Star Trek and get beamed anywhere this weekend, it would be to Assisi, for the Calendimaggio festival! Those Italians sure know how to put on a festival!

During Calendimaggio, upper and lower Assisi battle it out to see who can put on the most amazing medieval festival, with grand processions, music, costume dramas, archery and other medieval games. It's incredible! If you were were on my blog last year you might remember my enthusiasm for this unbelievable event that goes on for three days!

Calendimaggio 2010

If you are able to travel and can ever find a way to get there ... GET THERE! Steal your family member's airline miles and go! Seriously!

It is one of those experiences you should have in your life, if you are a traveler, love history, Italy or all of the above. It's the first weekend of May every year. Well... the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday so it depends on how it hits on the calendar.

When these banners (below) shot across, over the piazza, it was like magic. I wanted to burst into tears. There was no more enchanting and wonderful place to be than Assisi.

It was beautiful!

This is just a mini sampling of last years festivities but if you want to check out some aMAZing costumes and incredible moments from their productions last year, click right HERE.

I am rooting for the Parte de Sopra (upper Assisi) again this year. They have lost three years in a row! Think good thoughts for them this weekend. They work on this festival the entire year!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

~John Keats

Have a great weekend!

 

Assisi Pastel

When I am teaching art to kids that have been taking classes for awhile (especially the teenagers) I tell them to find things to work on that are meaningful to them, something they care about or an idea that moves them. It gives what you do so much more meaning when there is love or passion behind it.

This is the view looking up towards the top of Assisi, from the Basilica of Saint Francis. It's from a photo I took my first evening in Assisi in 2008. Everything was magical including the clouds moving over the medieval city. It's fun drawing a place you love. It somehow brings you back ... connects you to that place. I began this pastel just before I returned to Assisi in May this year and finished it after returned, so I guess it feels like it has energy from both of my journeys to Assisi.

Assisi 2010 pastel on La Carte paper

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart

and give thanks

for another day of loving.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Assisi ... Magical Assisi

There are places we are connected to (discussed here a lot on this blog!) and places that have an unexplainable magic about them. Big Sur on the Central Coast of California is like that, Haleiwa on the North Shore of Ouahu, the Serengeti Plane, and all in different ways. Assisi is like that. There is something extra special. The energy there is amazing and I loved it the moment I arrived in September of 2008.

When I was sick, my parents and I talked a lot about going back and I told them I would give them the grand tour when I got better. When I was in my scariest moments I would close my eyes and imagine walking up Via San Francesco from the Basilica. I would feel the cool air on my face and the cobblestones under my feet. I would look up and see the statues everywhere of St. Francis watching over me. If I was in a CT scan, little did the radiologist know ... I was off in Assisi, with Francis, walking up to Piazza del Commune.

I called on him for help a lot actually. I feel like Francis was one of reasons I got better and now Assisi is even more magical than it was before.

So, in celebration of being well,

(And Mom and Dad getting their grand tour!)

Here is Assisi ...

Assisi, Italy 2010

"We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,

Who sustains us with her fruits, colored flowers and herbs ...

"We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,

especially for Brother Sun,

who is the day through whom You give us light."

"And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,

of You Most High, he bears your likeness."

~Saint Francis of Assisi

Much more to come from Assisi, the Calendimaggio festival

and the Sanctuaries in Greccio and Fonte Columbo!