Filling in the banks

Our last two days were in Assisi. Most went on a side excursion to Florence the first day. Very large and beautiful city.  We visited Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza della Signoria and the Battistero which used to house the Pieta by Michelangelo.  The Pieta is now in the Basilica of St Peter in Rome.  There is a huge bell tower in the Plazza, several made the climb to the top.  They will have to share their pictures from that view.

Our second day in Assisi was a tour of the Basilica of St. Mary of the angels situated in the plain at the foot hill of Assisi.  This huge church encloses the little church, the Porzinucola, the place where St. Francis spent much of his time understanding his vocation to renounce the world and embrace poverty.

Then our tour took us to the top of the hill of Assisi to the Basilica of St. Claire, where we were to see the wooden crucifix that spoke to St. Francis.  Our day ended with Mass in a side chapel of the Basilica.

Rome is behind us

Our trip home was not as we expected it to be. We arrived at the airport in Rome to find that our plane had a broken window.  This meant that Delta had to find us another way home. Most got home late Thursday evening.   This meant 24 hours of travel time due to the time difference of 5 hours. Father Todd and a few others had to stay over in Philadelphia with a return on Friday to Indianapolis.

If you have been following this blog, please do not think it is finished.  Many days were long days of bus travel with little access to the Internet.  There will be more photos and commentary yet to come.  I am sure many of you have found great pictures on Facebook posted by our travelers.  The stories will be told by many for days even months to come.  What a blessing for us all and for you as we remembered you in our prayers as we visited the holy places.

Special thanks to Father Todd for his relentless care and support for all of  us.  The trip would have been very lacking without him, especially for our daily Mass in the Holiest of places.

Day seven.. Florence

Most chose to make this optional trip to Florence.  Very historical.
Also

Day six...Monday

Visit the Marian Shrine of Loreto. The holy house of Nazareth moved to this place from the Holy Land. These pictures will be added later.
 Also stopped at a city where there was a Eucharistic Miracle.  I forgot the name of the city. Celebrated Mass in the Church where the host and wine are miraculously the  human flesh and blood of Jesus.Pictures are at Mass.
Much time on the road. Late to the hotel Assisi.

comments allowed

I just found that a setting was not allowing readers to make comments.  Hopefully, this has been fixed.  So sorry, we welcome your thoughts.
I have not been able to make a lot of commentary or load a lot of pictures due to slow wi_fi.  I am sure many have posted on Facebook. Keep us in your prayers as we do for you. Here are some random photos.

Day five..Abbey of Santissima Trinita

Catching up on the day I missed.  This was Saturday March 7th. Very cold and windy. This Abbey is almost on top of a mountain and built into the mountain. Founded by a local saint. Beautiful paintings in a gallery deep in the side of the mountain. We celebrated Mass in this church.
Trip continued on to the Giovanni Rotondo, home of Saint Padro Pio. We stopped on the way in Salerno for lunch and a little  shopping.

day six St. Michael archangel and St. Pio

Wonderful day with St. Padre Pio.

Mass celebrated on the altar used by San Pio. Weather is uncomfortably cold but at least it is not raining.

Pasta lesson at the hotel.