Tears of St. Clare

Creative title today, another words - it has been pouring rain here all morning!  While others find this particularly distressing I find in it a certain beauty and calmness, even a reflectiveness.  Somehow clouds, fog and rain in Assisi seem to me to be really wonderful, almost magical!

The morning fog traveling across the city

 We had Mass this morning at St. Clare Basilica in the Chapel of St. George.  This Chapel was once the parish Church and St. Francis attended the school here and worshiped in this Church as a youth. It was here that his body was brought after he died (it made one stop in the procession at the Covent of San Damiano for Clare to say her final farewell) and here that he was interned until the Basilica of St. Frances was completed two years later.  Eventually the Poor Clare's, at the behest of the people of Assisi, moved their convent from San Damiano to this spot inside the city walls (for their protection).  A new Basilica was built over the old Church which served as the sisters chapel until the Basilica of St. Clare was completed and the old Church became a Chapel.  When the Poor Clare's moved from San Damiano they brought with them the possessions of Clare and Francis which I showed you yesterday and the Famous San Damiano Crucifix.  This Crucifix, by an unknown artist, spoke to St. Francis and told him, "Rebuild my Church it is in Ruins".

talking crucifix of San Damiano

Himself after Mass

 There are lovely frescos in this chapel.  The chapel looks almost as it did in Francis time by the good fortune of the earthquake that hit here several years ago.  Even terrible events can bring about good things!  Since the chapel was badly damaged they decided to restore it to the way it looked in Francis time and we are the beneficiaries of this good fortune!

St. Francis

 This is considered one of the best images of Clare.

St. Clare

The taking down from the Cross

The entombment of Christ

This afternoon we go to the Basilica of St. Francis where a Conventual Franciscan will give us a tour.  The conventual Franciscans wear a black habit.