I arrived Assisi on a very auspicious day, it seems from the story that follows. I got here this afternoon, February 24, exactly 818 years to the day that Francis’ life was radically changed! A nice bit of history! And tomorrow morning, more history as I will venerate his relics, his bones, in the lower basilica in this Jubilee Year marking the 800th birthday of his death. Reserving a time to venerate Francis is mandatory for the month-long period of veneration.
I checked into my hotel on Via San Francesco and went to have a late lunch. When I saw that one of my favorite places in Assisi was only yards away from the cafe, I rejoiced and went to say a rosary in the Oratorio di Pellegrini – the Pilgrims’ Oratory. This dates to the 15th century and is a stunningly frescoed, very small chapel that begs you to come in and pray before the Blessed Sacrament! No photos are allowed which I absolutely understand but it also breaks my heart just a bit not to share the beauty of this extraordinary prayer room!
I took some photos this afternoon and sent them from my phone to my laptop over an hour ago (7 pm) and they have not yet arrived – the wifi is ultra slow! I’ll go to dinner and see what awaits me afterward and post this column if possible!
A BIT LATER…Walking home from dinner, a car was coming up this quiet street and I moved to one side (no sidewalk) when the car slowed down and I heard the driver call my name! What are the odds of my meeting the one and only person I know in Assisi, Msgr. Tony Figueiredo, at that precise moment on a quiet dark street in this Umbrian hill town! Maybe the odds are as good as getting back a stolen wallet!
PS The photos arrived via email but were either upside down or sideways (!) so cannot post them here. Will post this now and then the photos – hope everything makes sense!
FRANCIS’ LIFE WAS RADICALLY CHANGED ON FEBRUARY 24
He finally discovered his mission in life after hearing the priest recite the Gospel at daily Mass.
After renouncing his former way of life, St. Francis of Assisi began actively discerning what God wanted him to do. Initially he thought God was calling him to physically rebuild churches. St. Francis ended up repairing three small chapels near Assisi, but after he was done, it still seemed like God was calling him to something more.
Then one day St. Francis was attending Mass at one of the chapels he restored, called the “Portiuncula” (“little portion.”)
It was there that St. Francis’ life took a radical turn that would end-up changing the entire world.
February 24, 1208
On the morning of February 24 (according to most Franciscan historians), St. Francis attended Mass inside the Portiuncula and was struck by the Gospel of the day, which at the time was for the feast of St. Matthias.
And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. (Matthew 10:7-13)
Afterwards, St. Francis proceeded to ask the priest who celebrated Mass about the Gospel passage. The priest explained it to him and immediately St. Francis knew what he had to do.
Up to this point St. Francis had a nice tunic, leather belt, sandals and a staff. He quickly divested himself of these things and made himself a new, rough tunic and tied a rope around his waist.
St. Francis felt God calling him to take Jesus’ words literally, not taking any money, sandals, or even a staff on his journey.
He was to preach the Gospel to the world, but first he was to live it out.
After that day St. Francis went out into Assisi and began preaching to the people there. Men were inspired to follow him and similarly gave-up everything they owned to follow this new life of poverty. St. Francis’ life was radically changed on February 24
Joan's Rome 