Today we left Roma and travelled on our way to Assisi. However we had a stop about halfway at Orvieto.It’s one of the most dramatic hill towns in Italy, perched on a plateau atop huge tufa cliffs. Orvieto has a stunning duomo (cathedral) and its monuments and museums cover millenniums of history starting with the Etruscans. We’ll travel up the hill in a funicular railway. Orvieto is famous for the Eucharistic Miracle and this is its story.
In 1263 a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that Christ was actually present in the consecrated Host. While celebrating Holy Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.
The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Urban IV was then residing.
The Pope listened to the priest's account and absolved him. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dignitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amid great pomp, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto.
It is said that Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Proper for a Mass and an Office honoring the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint's composition, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.
We had lunch in Orvieto where we bought pizza slices the size of an iPad for 1.5 euro!
On the BUS and off we go to Assisi. It will be about another 1 ½ hours to Assisi. This is the home of St Francis and St Clare. Some of you might live in a Franciscan parish or know girls who go to St Clare’s at Waverley. St Clare’s is run by the Poor Clare nuns, who were formed by St Clare and St Francis.
First stop is the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels. This is down on the plains of Assisi where St Francis spent much of his life.
Our first stop in Assisi is Santa Maria degli Angeli (Church of St. Mary of the Angels) in Assisi is much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death. Inside the grand Baroque basilica are two small, humble structures: the Capella del Transito and the Porziuncola. The Porziuncola is a chapel obtained from the Benedictines and restored by St. Francis himself. In it he founded the order of Friars Minor that would later be known as the Franciscans. It was also here that St. Clare embarked on her monastic life on March 28, 1211.
There was also half an hour of fireworks tonight celebrating the feats day of St Clare.
I will upload as many of our photos as possible on my next post,
Ciao.
Declan
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