Category: Italy – Way of St. Francis

Italy - Way of St. Francis, Prayerful Path

St. Francis and the First Nativity Scene

We all love our Nativity scenes. These have been popular Advent and Christmas decorations for centuries. But were you aware they originated by our beloved St. Francis? St. Francis of Assisi had a special devotion to the Child Jesus. He is credited with creating the first …

Italy - Way of St. Francis, St. Francis reflections

The Canticle of Brother Sun

Also known as The Canticle of the CreaturesBy St. Francis of Assisi Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,all praise is yours, all glory, all honor,and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. All praise be …

Italy - Way of St. Francis, Prayerful Path

Simply pray like St. Francis

francis pray

Francis of Assisi (13th century) simply wanted to live as Jesus did—as a wandering preacher with as few material possessions as possible. Francis never set out to found an order, but amazingly, people began to emulate him. The “Order of Friars Minor,” which we now call …

Italy - Way of St. Francis, Uncategorized

Way of St. Francis: The Sacred Mountain of La Verna

La Verna Italy

“In 1213 Count Orlando Catani of Chiusi gave Francis a mountainous parcel of land called La Verna to use as a place of retreat. Tucked into the wilderness east of Florence, La Verna features a solitary peak, known as Monte Penna, and is covered with …

Eat, Pray, Love, Italy - Way of St. Francis

Eat, Pray and Walk the Way of St. Francis

Some of the highlights along The Way of St. Francis Santuario della Verna (La Verna, our starting point) We start our walk from La Verna, a remote mountain retreat. As we leave the Sanctuary of La Verna, through the Casentino park, it is like walking back in time …

Italy - Way of St. Francis

Walking with St. Francis

BY Gretel Ehrlich | MAY 1, 2000 Gretel Ehrlich walks in the footsteps of St. Francis through the Umbrian countryside and ponders the life of a saint who was “radical without bitterness, vital yet gentle, dramatic—even outrageous at times—without narcissism.” The road to Gubbio veers north …