Sculptures of Saint Francis - Assisi

OCTOBER 2018 PILGRIMAGE: 2

Sculpture of Saint Francis in Assisi

Assisi is filled with images of St. Francis. There are the fantastic frescos of Giotto and Cimabue in the Basilica of St. Francis. There are images on the sides of houses. But there are also some extraordinary metal sculptures near Franciscan sites.

One I hadn’t seen when I was in Assisi in 2013 and may be new is Francis with a locust near the church of St. Mary of the Angels, in the exit from the cloisters and the store.

For me, this image presents Francis in communion with all of creation. He is standing there, with a leg up against the nearby pillar, holding a locust, barely touching it. The gentleness of his touch impressed me - as I also encountered such creatures of God around my house.

There are two sculptures near the church of San Damiano that present two other dimensions of St. Francis. In a clearing between trees, with a view of the valley, Francis is sitting in meditation, in communion with God.

Just by the entrance to the square in front of San Damiano is an image of a poor man, beleaguered by the wind and the rain. I think of how Francis sought to identify with the marginalized of his day, as Jesus became poor for our sake.

There is also a group of three images in the Eremo delle Carceri, the place where Francis and his early companions sought a refuge for prayer in the caves that dot the mountainside that I photographed in 2013. 

This time I happened onto the plaque, in Italian, that seems to say that there are images of Francis, Juniper, and another brother gazing at the stars in the sky. 

The wonder that Francis showed for all creation come through.

There are others, but these are for me the most evocative of Francis – in communion with creation, in communion with God, identifying with the marginalized, and in awe of all that God has made.

Sculptures of St. Francis - Rome

OCTOBER 2018 PILGRIMAGE: 1

Sculpture of Saint Francis and Companions in Rome

During my pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, I was moved by a number of statues of Saint Francis of Assisi, most of which I had seen in 2013.

Across from the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, next to the Lateran Palace where the popes used to live, is a sculpture of several images of friars. Francis, after he found himself with several followers, went to Rome in 1209 to seek the approval of the Pope for his way of life.

What would be the reaction of a medieval pope, surrounded with money and power, to this rag-tag group of men? Even if he was into reform, he was probably suspicious. But he had a dream in which the Lateran was falling down and the rag-tag leader of this group kept it from falling down. He then received Francis and approved his rule.

At the top of the work is Francis, arms raised. Are they raised to pray for the Church, which was experiencing extreme difficulties? Are they raised to rebuke the church for the failure to live the Gospel? Or are they raised to help support the church, not leaving his role to mere prayer and definitely not acerbic criticism?

Look at the images.

First of all, look from the back. From one vantage point, Francis seems to be lifting up the church.

Look at the five brothers. One is prostrate; one is kneeling in prayer, seen only from the back; two are standing.

I was particularly struck by the kneeling friar whom I had never really noticed, since I hadn’t gone behind the sculptures. He is barefoot.

  It is not by power or might that the Gospel was preached by Francis – but with poverty and simplicity, and a deeply rooted passion for Christ.

Two weeks and more

Rain, rain, rain. Though it has stopped here for a few hours, we have had strong rains for the last three days. There has been serious flooding in Tegucigalpa but here we mostly have to watch out for slippery hills. This comes after some really hot and dry weeks in September.

The rain of course makes it difficult to get clothes dried, but that’s the least of our worries here.

I haven't written for more than two weeks and so a post is necessary - especially since I'm heading to Rome, Assisi, and Ames, Iowa in two days.

This past week was the week of the Ferias Morazanicas, with at least three days of time off for official employees. Most schools were closed all week.

But I have been busy for several weeks with a variety of activities – and a rather bad chest cold (which made me stay at home and try to rest for several days.)

One of my new responsibilities as deacon has been to do the interviews of couples and witnesses after they have finished their formation. Three weeks ago, one couple was married. I was at the wedding but the pastor was the official church witness. Yet I got to the church before the wedding to baptize the young man getting married. Last week, I again assisted as deacon at a wedding Mass – but this time it was of a neighbor who married a young woman in her home village.

We are having more weddings than before and this is, for me, a good sign.

I also presided at a Quinceañera celebration, a sort of coming out celebration for fifteen-year-old young women. I have been at a few, but I haven’t seen this happen often among the poor. I tried to preach about the dignity of the person, especially young women, whose dignity come from God – not from grades, jobs, number of Facebook friends, or men. I hope the message got across.

But what disturbed me was that though the young woman, whose mother is in the US and whose biological father is presumably absent, was there even without the grandmother who is taking care of her. I also was quite taken aback when she didn’t go to Communion. It seems much more a cultural event than a religious ceremony. But then I may just be too biased and critical.

Two weeks ago we had the parish mission. Forty three parishioner went to visit almost all the villages of the parish, reaching out to those estranged from the church.

During the week, a tragic event occurred. In one village a young man, about 33, committed suicide, leaving a six-year old girl and an estranged wife. He had some serious mental problems but was taking medicine which helped him control his behavior and his health. But he had run out of the medicine which, I was told later, is only available at a hospital in Tegucigalpa and which costs about $175. He tried to find a way to borrow money to get the medicine, but to no avail. My guess is that, in desperation, he killed himself. Padre German gave a thoughtful homily at the funeral Mass, trying to help people not to blame or castigate the man. (I don’t think he knew about the difficulty of getting medicine.) I felt so bad. We have a solidarity fund and many know about it, but no one suggested that as a source for the money for the medicine.

This is, again, one of the many ways the poor suffer – not having medicine nor ways to purchase what they need.

Last week we had a meeting of Social Ministry coordinators from the villages. Only five came, but we had a very fruitful meeting talking not only of problems but of what they were doing in their areas. We talked about situations of health, water, schools, housing, and more. I came away from the meeting with a bit of hope.

Last week we also celebrated the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is patron of at least four villages. I got to Delicias Concepción about 8:30 for their procession. They gathered at a home and prayed the rosary. Then they walked behind the image of Saint Francis to the church. There Padre German celebrated Mass and I preached. Here are some photos from Delicias.

Right after Mass I headed for La Entrada to have lunch with the Franciscan sisters there. It was a welcome break and a time to talk in English with one of the sisters, Nancy, who is a good friend and whom I hold partly responsible for me being here in Honduras.

The ride home was almost uneventful, since there was no road work that week. Yet on the hill from the main highway to Dulce Nombre I found the car sliding a bit because of the mud. They had scraped the road but hadn’t put down gravel. I got up the hill, but I wish I had put on my four-wheel drive before attempting the hill. At least one car was in the ditch.

Last Monday I visited the sick in San Agustín. There are many sick, elderly, and homebound there – with only one Communion minister. So I try to visit when I can. The first house I went to was the home of a severely crippled woman. I found her with a neighbor and neighbor’s children and two young girls who I think are here children. She was sitting there desgranando mazurcas de maíz – taking the grains off dried ears of corn. I sat down beside her and we talk – and I joined her and a four-year-old neighbor kid working on the ears of corn. I found such delight in sharing a simple chore with a poor ill woman.

The parish has, with the help of St. Thomas Aquinas church in Ames, purchased a vehicle to be used to transport people to hospitals and clinics at a decent cost. I got a call yesterday to see if the parish car was available yet to take a woman to the hospital in Santa Rosa. I didn’t know and I couldn’t help them since I was in Santa Rosa for a few hours. After I finished what I had to do I called and found they had obtained a ride.

The parish car to transport the sick - named after Saint Raphael.

Yet this morning someone called to try to get a ride to bring her back. I ended up going. She was extremely weak and they almost had to carry her to and from the car. I calculated that the fuel for this was about 250 lempiras, about eleven dollars. However, some private drivers would charge up significantly more – especially in the evening. When this car functions, it will be a real way to help the people.

In two days I am off to the canonization of Romero in Rome and a visit to Assisi – together with our pastor. Then I’m off to Ames, Iowa, to catch up with people at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center, which has been so generous with our parish.

I’m finishing this post with no electricity and will try to post it later today, Tuesday, if the electric returns – as it often does.

But it is not raining tonight!

I went to a youth group in Delicias tonight at 5 pm and returned in the semi-darkness to a house without electricity. Rosary and evening prayer by candlelight. And then I started making supper.

The electricity returned about 7:10 pm – just as I was finishing cooking supper.