Assisi Pilgrimage day 4:
This morning was a free morning. We all either returned to our favourite places or explored the areas of Assisi unseen as a group.
In the afternoon we met Valentina,our guide,at San Damiano which is a church with a monastery. A UNESCO protected property. Built in the 12th century, it was the first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare, where Saint Clare built her community. St Francis wrote The Canticle of the creatures, in the garden there. Mass was celebrated in a chapel in the cloisters.
An early night tonight, as a 4:20am start back to transfer to Bologna’s airport for our flight home. Many memories and new friends made with this amazing experience.
I hope we’ve been able to include everyone at home, by sharing the trip with you. Everyone has been in our prayers.

Assisi pilgrimage day3:
The morning started with a steep walk to the Basilica of St Francis, where we visited the tomb for private prayer and exploration of the building which is actually 2 Basilicas - an upper and lower which are also classed as Papal Minor Basilica.
We then celebrated Mass together in one of the Franciscan chapels in the grounds.
This afternoon we had a guided tour of the Basilica and a further climb to the Basilica of St Clare, where The Poor Clare’s was founded,and where the original St. Damiano Cross is, which is the cross that St Francis and St Clare prayed before and spoke to St Francis saying “Go Francis and repair my house as you see it is falling into ruin”
Finally we visited the Church of St Mary Major where the body of St Carlo Acutis is displayed.
A busy and thought provoking day…

Assisi Pilgrimage day 2:
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast we set off on the bus to the Basilica of St Mary of the Angel where we prayed in the Porziuncola- the small church inside the Basilica, where the Franciscan movement started. We celebrated Mass in a chapel in the Basilica before visiting the rose garden, of roses without thorns. Tradition has it that one winters night St Francis was praying in his cell when he was visited by a strong temptation to abandon the life of penance and prayer. To vanquish this suggestion he took off his clothes and threw himself in thorny briars on coming into contact with his body the thorns disappeared.