Then it was back on the train to reach Norcia, where we would stay for two weeks while Andrew assisted at a theology program. We were blessed to visit some holy sites during this time!
Training through Umbria, we saw many towns perched on hills like this one.
We made a short stop in Foligno, to pray at the tomb of St. Angela of Foligno.
St. Angela was a wife and mother from the 13th century who self-admittedly lived a selfish, vain, and corrupt life. When she experienced a conversion, she repented and gave her life completely to God, later becoming a Third-Order Franciscan and beginning a spiritual center for men and women. She received many visions and revelations from God. These women who achieved holiness while in a lay state of vocation inspire me.
Her body is incorrupt.
Pope John Paul II visited this site in 1993 and the vestment that he wore is on display in this church.
Foligno's duomo or cathedral.
Churches were my nursing zones while in Italy. Cool, quiet, with an overload of beauty, usually empty, and...a place to sit and contemplate and pray. :)
We arrived in Norcia during a downpour, and it proceeded to rain the entire first week. Hence, we didn't take too many pictures of the in's and out's of our stay here.
Norcia is the birthplace of sibling saints Benedict and Scholastica, and home to a wonderful group of Benedictine monks, many of whom are from the States.
Our little group received a tour of the basilica.
The main altar, where the monks celebrate Mass in the Latin extraordinary form every day, complete with beautifully chanted Gregorian propers. A bit of heaven on earth.
The crypt chapel.
It is in this alcove where Benedict and Scholastica were born!
Lighting a candle and saying a prayer for dear Aunt Patricia!
Remains of the original monastery walls.
The first Sunday of our stay was Corpus Christi and sunny! On our way to Mass, we came upon grass and flower carpets and designs throughout the main streets of the town.
It also happened to be the 50th anniversary of St. Benedict being named the patron saint of Europe - I hadn't known that!
Michael waiting for Mass atop his favorite lion statue in the piazza.
After Mass, we joined with the town in a Eucharistic procession throughout the streets.
Some of the Benedictine monks.
Michael took the procession very seriously and when we stopped to pray at one point, he knelt even though no one else was kneeling and the prayers were in Italian.
Corpus Christi afternoon, I had the opportunity to take the bus to Cascia with our group to visit the Basilica of St. Rita, who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries and whose husband and sons died early on. She eventually became a nun and professed a great love for, and acceptance of, the Cross and suffering.
Sculptures around the doors depict Rita's life.
Very different artwork than what we were expecting, but it speaks to its relative newness, as it was built by Pope Pius XII and consecrated in 1947.
St. Rita's relics.
In the lower basilica, there is an Eucharistic miracle preserved. This miracle occurred in Siena in 1330 when a priest irreverently placed a consecrated Host between the pages of his missal to take to a sick man. Upon arriving at the man's house, he opened the missal and found that the pages had turned red with fresh blood coming from the Host. Here is the Host and part of the missal page...684 years later.
How special to see this on the feast of Corpus Christi!!
We had a bit of gelato and Italian beer while we waited for the bus back to Norcia.
Regina (from the States) and family friend, was such a wonderful baby sitter for us this year! We will miss this sweet girl, especially Michael.
Our time in Norcia revolved around daily Mass, theological study for Andrew and the group, walks for me and the boys, and I also helped with cooking dinner. And siestas and gelato, of course!
Norcia is famous for its pork sausage and sports many Norcineria shops. Michael particularly enjoyed the display outside of this one.
These 3-wheeled trucks were a big hit with him too; he wanted to "drive one" so bad, poor guy.
After two weeks, it was time to head home...but first we spent a few days in Rome, with a stop in Orvieto on the way! Here is Michael waiting for the train with Friar Israel, who participated in the Norcia program. He got quite a kick out of Michael's talkative and inquisitive nature.
The town of Orvieto.
Ready to head up the mountain in the funicular car. Michael was surprised that there was yet another mode of transportation of which he was not aware...
Because of the proximity to Bolsena, where the famous Eucharistic miracle of 1263 took place, Orvieto is dedicated to the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord, and its duomo enshrines the relic of this miracle. Michael was excited to see this large monument, as he always points out the Host and the chalice during Mass.
The facade is covered with mosaics and stained glass which depict scenes from the Blessed Mother's life. It is simply glowing and beautiful.
16th century organ.
Finally! The Chapel of the Corporal. In 1263, Fr. Peter of Prague was offering Mass in the near-by town of Bolsena and was struggling with doubts about the true Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As he lifted the Host, drops of blood fell onto the corporal (cloth laid on the altar). His faith restored, he reported the miracle to the local bishop, who took it to Pope Urban IV who happened to be visiting Orvieto. The pope then proclaimed the feast of Corpus Christi and ordered the building of this cathedral. We spent a while sitting in this chapel contemplating the miracle and studying the frescoes which depict its story.
Preserved all these years...
A niche in the same chapel contains this 1320 painting of the Madonna of Mercy.
Across the main nave is the Chapel of San Brizio. Simply amazing frescoes begun by Fra Angelico in 1447 and finished in 1499 by Luca of Cortona. These frescoes describe scenes of the Apocalypse and the afterlife and are very striking.
The sermon of the Antichrist. Notice satan whispering into the Antichrist's ear.
The fall of the damned.
The resurrection of the flesh.
Paradise. We were happy to spend a while studying these as the boys had opportunely fallen asleep. Then we walked around the city.
St. Padre Pio!
Oh, the little alleyways in Europe make for great diaper changing spots. Grin.
Just by chance, I happened to read on the Orvieto map that one of its many churches, the 13th century church of San Domenico, contained the crucifix from which our Lord spoke to St. Thomas Aquinas! We made a beeline for it.
In 1273, St. Thomas was praying before this crucifix after he had completed writing the second part of his supreme Summa Theologiae and had begun work on the third section which discusses the Incarnation and the sacraments. Jesus spoke, "You have written well of me, Thomas. What is it you desire?" To which St. Thomas replied, "Only you, Lord, only you." It is reported that he was found in ecstasy, levitating in front of the same crucifix. We both took some time here...wow.
There was a little park next door that Michael enjoyed before we headed back down the mountain for the train to Rome.
My precious boy contemplating.
Such a cheerful traveler. So blessed.
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