Dear Friends,
My final installment after being away to Italy and it is good to be home, although Assisi is always amazing!
One of the most special places to visit in Assisi is, of course, the tomb of Saint Francis. Francis remains are in a crypt below the Lower Church of the Basilica of Saint Francis. Francis was so beloved that even before he died plans were being made to build a church in his honor. Simple Francis would never have wanted this. Yet shortly after his death construction began on the Basilica. When his permanent resting place was prepared, his remains were transferred from San Giorgio Church when he had been buried in secret so folks wouldn’t come to try and steal parts of his body as relics.
Now Francis lies in his tomb, surrounded by some of his earliest followers in the Order of Friars Minor: San Rufino, San Leo, San Angelo and San Masseo. Also nearby is Lady Jacoba, a follower of Francis who became a dear friend. She prepared almond cakes which were Francis’ favorite treat. When Francis lay dying, Lady Jacoba came to bring him some of those almond treats. As she was a woman and not a member of the Friars, there was some hesitancy in letting her pass by to see Francis. Francis simply said, “Let Brother Jacoba come.” And so “brother” was let in and Francis feasted on his almond treats once more before he died.
It’s interesting that the piece of land which was given to the church to build the Basilica was called at the time “Colle d’Inferno” or “Hill of Hell” because it was the place of execution of criminals. After the cornerstone for the Basilica was laid, the place was newly named “Colle del Paradiso,” the Hill of Paradise.”
Francis let Christ transform his life completely. And Francis transformed so many lives by his love, kindness and example of authentic gospel living. He continues to inspire today! (It is amazing to see the non-stop line of pilgrims at all hours of the day who pass by his tomb to spend a moment in prayer with him.)
And, of course, the challenge for all of us is to let Christ transform us too, to let Christ live in us and through us as completely as Francis did, continuing the work of transforming the hills of hell around us into hills of paradise where the Peace of Christ takes hold.
Pace e bene,
Father Liam