Hello dear friends!

Here are our photos from Assisi with some captions:

The view from our room in central Assisi out to our balcony that overlooked the street from St. Chiara’s basilica (St. Clare) to the Piazza Comune:

The balcony across from ours:

Another view from our balcony:

Another view from our balcony toward the Piazza Comune:

Toward St. Chiara:

Katie amazed by the pastries at the pasticcheria:

Looking down on Assisi from the road leading to Mt. Subiaso where the Eremo di Carceri (St. Francis’ Hermitage of the Prisons) is located. It was a 2.5 to 3 mile steep hike up to the hermitage, which is where St. Francis and his brothers would go to pray:

During the hike up the mountain:

The mountains were robed in clouds at their tops:

Katie getting cold during the hike–we wanted to turn back about 20 times because it was really cold and the hike was tough, but we kept going “just another 200 meters then we’ll turn around”:

Santa Maria degli Angeli is the dome down in the valley, which is the Assisi municipality area:

In the background is the Rocca Magiore (Big Fortress) that sits atop one of Assisi’s hills. The wolf dogs that we tried to befriend were behind the fence on the left that encircle the olive grove. The wolf dogs were not as friendly to us as they were to St. Francis!

Katie getting even colder overlooking a vineyard and olive grove:

Finally, after a 2 hour hike, we made it to the Eremo! It sits in the side of the mountain. There is a chapel where they have Mass, and we went and prayed before the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament. The hermitage was very peaceful and beautiful. St. Francis’ little cell where he came to pray looked austere and must have been freezing cold because it was very cold when we were there:

Now we started walking down the mountain–here is another view of the Umbrian countryside:

Later that night, we went to a concert at Chiesa Nuova (New church) which is a very old church that sits on top of St. Francis’ family home. There is a little cell here where his parents imprisoned the young Francis when he told them he was going to give everything away and follow Christ.

Outside the church, a statue of his parents depicts his mother with a chain, symbolizing (I think) her wanting to keep him from leaving for the life of poverty and radical dedication to Christ that he was called to.

The concert music was beautiful with very talented singers, led by the Franciscan priest who celebrated Mass in this church earlier in the day (Sunday). They sang Epiphany and Christmas songs, and after each song, the priest would turn around and bow to the small audience, which was very endearing:

Katie under the buttresses of Santa Chiara, with an Epiphany play scene behind her:

The Epiphany play scene–we didn’t get to see the actual play, though you can imagine it was very nice:

The majestic Basilica of St. Francesco (St. Francis), lightly shrouded in mist, with my lovely wife in the foreground:

Closer up:

We made a day trip to Siena, and this is Il Campo (the field or square), which is made of brick and slopes down like an amphitheater.

We made a picnic here and people-watched:

Prosciutto, salami, bread, fruit, and FRESH MOZZARELLA! Rick Steve’s indispensable guidebook sits nearby, more on that later:

Katie drinking some Acqua Frizzante (con gas):

Il Campo:

The big tower built on the civic building at the base of Il Campo. It was built without an extra foundation to celebrate the end of the Black Death that killed 1/3 of the Sienese people just before St. Catherine of Siena was born:

One more of Katie at Il Campo:

Il Duomo (the Cathedral):

This cathedral and Florence’s are quite similar from the outside–both amazingly beautiful:

Front:

Detail:

Beautiful:

We think that this is the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the temple:

On the way to St. Catherine’s home and San Domenico, where her head and thumb are. Her head was incorrupt it looked like, with the flesh still on it, and her thumb as well. I think her body is in Rome:

Back in Assisi, up a cool road:

Closer:

Three friends of ours, Sister Modesta, Brothers Geronimo and Paul:

Heading toward the church at San Damiano, where St. Francis heard Jesus speak to him through the crucifix: “Rebuild my church, which has fallen into ruin”.

Along the path:

Um, yes, God is incredible:

We came across this herd of sheep in an olive grove while going to the church:

They got spooked by us and stampeded, causing their shepherd to run after them with the sheep dog:

This baby lamb was just born!

More rays of grace:

Closer:

Clouds covering the mountains behind an old olive tree:

The central courtyard in San Damiano, where we accidentally walked in on about 30 young Franciscan brothers and sisters having class!

The courtyard looking up to the mountains behind it:

Just outside of San Damiano:

Santa Maria degli Angeli again:

The Assisi valley:

My beautiful wife looking at the countryside in awe of our Lord:

Old olive trees in a grove–these fascinated me, and we want to see if we can plant olive trees here in Austin (who knows?):

Bellisima! This is the last sunset we saw in Assisi, viewed from Santa Chiara’s basilica:

Sunset over the Umbrian valley:

More discussion to come about our trip, but these are the photos!