The Prayer of St. Assisi or St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon:

where there is doubt, faith ;

where there is despair, hope

where there is darkness, light

where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Assisi is a small town in the rolling hills of Umbria in Italy more popular known as birth place of St. Francis. St Francis is one of the most popular catholic saints in the history and Assisi is the most important pilgrimage site in Europe. Assisi is busy all year with pilgrims and tourists, most of whom take a day trip from Rome to Assisi. Assisi has seven other churches besides Basillica id Francesco worth visiting for their history, beauty and their connection with St. Francis. Basillica di Francesco is one of the oldest monuments of Italy. It was built in the 13^th century. The interior of the church is an example of early style of Gothic architecture. This was a great step in the development of Italian art.

Basilica di San Francesco contains relics of St. Francis and few art works. Basilica also houses a collection of famous art including Giotto’s grand frescos of the life of St. Francis. I went to Assisi from Rome by car which is only about 90 miles away in the north. The peace and serenity of this beautiful town welcomed me after the hustle bustle of the capital Rome. I explored the narrow streets full of flower ornamented balconies and the town is even more charming in the evenings with its medieval aura.

Assisi is very popular among people who love food with its renowned mouth watering black truffles and a glass of chilled delicious dry white wine called Orvieto. One must try the antipasti plate of prosciutto, salami, liver, suckling pig and the best olive oil of Italy. Being a gourmet, I took the pleasure to try and enjoy all these delicacies here.

I was awestruck to see the magnificence and decoration of the Basilica church which illustrates the great love people had St. Francis who was a man of simple tastes. The holy tomb of St. Francis in the crypt is a sacred position where devotees come from everywhere to pray.

Apart from the Basilica, there is Rocca Maggiore which is an old imposing fortress rebuilt in the 14^th century.  Tourists must also visit the Basilica di Santa Chiara (devoted to Francis’ first sister Saint Clare), the Romanesque San Peitro (Saint Peter), Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen) and San Rufino which is the town cathedral of Assisi.

I walked up Corso Mazzini to Piazza del Comune and took pleasure in the medieval palazzi and the marvellously preserved Temple of Minerva. It is the best place to sit and relax on the stone steps with a gelato watching the colourful and lively tourists. I went up on the slopes of Mount Subasio to take in the splendid view of the entire town with the greenery of the mountain against the shimmering soft pink of its medieval buildings. Assisi is the most visited Christian shrines today. I personally feel that Assisi is a place with a distinct feeling. It has serene energy with presence of awakening and stimulating peace in the human heart. I found it to be a more of empowerment place than a power place.

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