Category / Spirituality

by canddaway

Taizé

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We arrived in our beloved village of Taizé in Burgundy yesterday. It is a joy to be here. We feel at home in this place for body, mind and soul. We have a month before we move on, which is the longest time we will have stayed in the same place since August 1st 2015.

For any followers who do not know, Taizé village is also the home of the monastic ecumenical community of Taizé. All are welcomed to their rhythm of prayer during the day and those who stay with the community join with other pilgrims in study, work, conversations and fun!

We are staying in a gite a walking distance from the community. We hope to enjoy a regular rhythm of song and contemplation with the thousands who will be here on the hill over the next weeks.

by canddaway

Fragility

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Walking close to where we are staying I caught sight of these beautiful wildflowers growing alongside the road in a bit of rough ground.

On days when we are most aware of the fragility of all life it is good to recollect the journey these fragile flowers have made through the hard earth to where they can find new sustenance.

 

by canddaway

Firenze

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Yesterday was our day for visiting Florence. We wandered through the piazzas and streets enjoying the buildings and sculptures we passed by.

It was delightful to revisit San Marco, the 15th century Dominican monastery where Fra’ Angelico painted his beautiful, moving frescoes in the cloisters and cells. The Annunciation at the top of the first floor stairs is breathtaking in its perspective and simplicity of form.

We took the bus up to Fiesole, a hill village north of Florence, where we ate our picnic in the Piazza Mino da Fiesole,  then walked the 8 km back into Florence passing huge villas, olive groves and citrus trees.

Our day ended with a walk along the banks of the Arno in the hazy evening light.

by canddaway

Lucchese labyrinth

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We are staying in the Lucchese plain between Lucca and Florence. Yesterday we set off to explore the first of these. The focus of the trip was to encounter the Duomo of San Martino with its late 12th century labyrinth carved into the right pier of the porch.

We arrived to discover the porch covered in scaffolding and white plastic netting. Someone had created a hole in the netting through which the labyrinth could be viewed at a distance. Disappointing, but still hoping for closer access next visit.

N.B. A cut has been made in the stone of the labyrinth making it difficult to negotiate the outer circuit. Otherwise it is a perfect 11 circuit medieval labyrinth.

by canddaway

Pace

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One of the frescos attributed to Giotto in the Upper Basilica of St Francis in Assisi gave pause for reflection on an issue of our day. It shows Francis meeting the Sultan of Egypt, Melek el Kamil, a man he developed a good friendship with. For Francis all persons were sisters and brothers whatever their culture, tradition, beliefs or nationality.

The implications of holding such a view might well affect our own praxis of politics, hospitality and spirituality.

by canddaway

Pilgrimage

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We took the path out of Porta Cappuccini and began our walk up the slope of Mount Subasio towards the caves above Assisi that St Francis and his brothers used as a hermitage.

It was a lovely day for our journey and as we arrived at Eremo Delle Carceri, now a small friary, we felt greeted by the loud bird song in the oak trees all around us.

We finished the day inside the huge Basilica di Santa Maria Angeli, 4 km from Assisi, where we spent some time in the Porziuncola, the nucleus of the first Franciscan monastery, and the Cappella del Transito where St Francis died in 1226. The frescoes by Lo Spagna were movingly beautiful.

by canddaway

Pasqua

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We walked the empty streets of Assisi in the early morning as white haze gave way to an azure sky and bells began to ring out over the town.

The Basilica di S.Chiara was quiet and moving in its simple beauty. The Basilica di S.Francesco quite overwhelmed the senses with its stunning frescoed walls and vaults, celebratory music and crowds of worshippers. We both ‘had a moment’.

A very happy Easter to all followers of our blog. Pace.

by canddaway

Roma

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We met with friends to spend the day exploring some of the remaining buildings of Ancient Rome.

The 50,000-seat Colossium was a marvel of engineering. All sections of society gathered in seating appropriate to their status to enjoy the animal hunts, gladiatorial contests, executions and mythological theatre that took place there.

The Forum, a market place, civic centre and religious complex, was vast and we wandered the ruins till we came across the site of the Temple of Vesta and the nearby remains of the house and garden of the Vestal Virgins who served the Temple. The main role of these six priestesses was to keep alight the public fire that was to burn perpetually as a symbol of the city’s life force. They also looked after sacred objects and celebrated annual festivals.

A fascinating end to our stay in Rome.

by canddaway

Musei

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Across the room he looked very much like the current 007. Close up it was definitely a statue of Emporer Claudius.

There was so much to take in as we trouped with hundreds of others around the many Vatican museums. The Pinacoteca or papal picture gallery drew us to a work by Melozzo da Forli (1438-1494) ‘Musician Angels’, part of a huge fresco taken from the church of SS.Apostoli.

In the Sistine Chapel we stood then sat for a long time. Michaelangelo’s vault was extraordinarily beautiful. The Sibyl of Delphi and the prophet Isaiah were particularly breathtaking.

I wonder how many people have pondered the gap between the loosened fingers of the Creator and Adam?

 

(image of Sibyl of Delphi from a photo of a picture)