Awe and Wonder (on the Feast Day of St. Francis)

I've written several posts about St. Francis, including the one in which Jonathan left his footprint on holy ground. You can read about it here ... (Do Saints Wear Sneakers?)


A few years ago I even gave a presentation to a Women's Bible Study about St. Francis and La Verna, a Franciscan monastery in the heart of Tuscany where St. Francis received the stigmata.


And it is there, at La Verna, where you can see St. Francis' robe.


Our family's visit to that mountaintop retreat was memorable for several reasons: the monastery was nestled in the woods on top of a mountain, so the views were spectacular; it was a chilly day for June, but the air was so crisp and fresh and, honestly, it was nice to escape the heat of the city; Jonathan, who was holding his precious, brand new soccer ball, dropped it and had to watch it bounce all the way down the mountain; and the frescoes in the Corridor of the Stigmata were breathtaking.


But truly, the most standout memory for all of us was seeing St. Francis' robe. There were no words, just feelings of awe and wonder.

The robe of St. Francis of Assisi.
The Sanctuary of La Verna

The Basilica Major
The Sanctuary of La Verna

Corridor of the Stigmata

The mountaintop
The Sanctuary of La Verna, a Franciscan Monastery

Exploring La Verna.