Bishop Nelson Perez and a group of priests from the Diocese of Cleveland are traveling to Rome and Assisi for a pilgrimage and retreat. Father Dan Schlegel, secretary and vicar for clergy and religious, is sharing some of their experiences. Below is a recap of the seventh day.
Today’s pilgrimage was to La Verna, approximately 2 hours driving distance from Assisi. In the spring of 1213 St. Francis met a wealthy Count who, impressed by his preaching, made a gift of land to Francis. Here St. Francis and his brothers would retreat to for long periods of withdrawal. Caves were built along the side of the mountain and this would be a special place of prayer, renewal and escape from the busy life of Assisi.
In this very place, on September 14, 1224 St. Francis experienced the stigmata. In a deep time of prayer reflecting on the passion of Jesus Christ, Francis began to develop nails of hardened flesh protruding from his hands and feet. In addition, his body began to form a wound in his side like that of Christ.
La Verna became a place of sacred and holy ground, where a church was built and a chapel near the spot of the miracle was erected. Each day at 3:00 p.m. the Franciscan monks celebrate mid-day prayer then have a procession of singing and chanting from the main church to the chapel of the Stigmata. Prayers are continually recited in the chapel before the procession returns to the church for closing prayers.
As you look over the hillside and see the breathtaking beauty of the valley below, you can imagine why St. Francis found La Verna to be a place of inspiration - a place to meet.
Father Dan Schlegel