Welcome to Franciscan Spirituality!

Pilgrimage is at least as much about coming home to ourselves, wherever we find ourselves, as it is about leaving all that is comfortable to us in order to find something that we’ve never seen or known before…

A Brief Summary of Our Itinerary June 13-21, 2010 We depart Cincinnati Sunday morning (June 13) and fly to Rome

After clearing customs, we drive toward Assisi but stop for an orientation in Greccio Monday, June 14

Our bus ride helps us enter into the spirit of medieval pilgrimage: What do we bring with us on this trip? What is our intention for this trip?

Greccio

Francis’ creation of the first creche at Greccio helps us enter into the reality of Christ’s incarnation

We talk about the many ways we have experienced our humanity and what it means to say that God walks with us

As we talk and pray we realize that, although time and space separate us from Francis and Clare, we share a great deal in our lived, human experience…

Evening meals give us a chance to get to know one another…

Tuesday, June 15 Our day begins with a walking tour of Assisi. The city comes alive with sounds and colors.

The town of Assisi becomes our classroom as we stop and contemplate the places where Francis and Clare grew up.

And in the afternoon we head off to nearby Perugia, where Francis was imprisoned for a year after being captured in battle.

We visit the Umbrian National Gallery of Art to enter into the spirit of medieval religious practice and to give us a sense of the growing understanding of the incarnation during Francis’ lifetime

Violence and Vulnerability Afterward we descend into the bowels of the modern city and recreate the time of Francis’ capture and imprisonment in Perugia--his first experience of vulnerability. He became seriously ill in prison, succumbing to malaria.

In our evening reflection we recall the ways that we, too, have experienced vulnerability, pain, and the confusion of deep, unanswered questions… In our evening reflection we recall the ways that we, too, have experienced vulnerability, pain, and the confusion of deep, unanswered questions…

Wednesday, June 16: Assisi In the morning we reflect on the critical moment of Francis’ conversion: the encounter with the leper...

And in the afternoon we re-enact Francis’ dramatic self-stripping before the bishop.

Thursday, June 17: La Verna

Sacred site of Francis’ stigmatization We explore the mystery of death and resurrection: What, in us, needs to die, in order that we might live more deeply in God?

The valley below La Verna

“Francis, rebuild my church. Can’t you see it’s in ruins?” Friday, June 18: San Damiano

We explore the simplicity of the Franciscan lifestyle and especially…

The Healing Charism of Clare

Saturday, June 19 Quiet time at San Damiano is followed by a silent walk down to the Portiuncula where Francis spent much of his life Quiet time at San Damiano precedes a walk to the Portiuncula

Sunday, June 20: Day of Rest

Before our final banquet…

Enjoy the magic of Italy, the warmth of Assisi, the fellowship of pilgrimage…