Italy Contrasts Contemplation
An image which informs the contrast contemplation on Italy is one of a North American Church with all of the newness and up to the times design and social interaction as a child of the Churches of Italy. The child may need to go home and begin to think about and appropriate the features of the Parent Church which have provided insight into the transcendent and immanent nature of God for centuries of believers.
Assisi is earthy and the land, the smells and the atmosphere transmit a place which is in contrast to the hustle and bustle and time of the modern world. Timelessness is a sense which emanates from the environment.
The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and Basilica di Santa Chiara dominate the skyline of Assisi yet the little Church of Porziuncola in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli speaks of the nature of Saint Francis and speaks of qualities of his life which have inspired millions.
Peacefulness is the ambiance of the land where the author of the “peace prayer” centered his vocation. Beauty in land, art and architecture nourishes an inner hunger for meaningful expression and interpretation of that which is ultimately uninterpretable.
The role of the body in our relationship with God has been under represented in the Church in North America. The interplay with the Sacred in Assisi is physical. Eyes, ears, nose and tongue take in the sensual experience. The feet and muscles respond to the hills. The body core perspires in the sun and feels real comfort and consolation within the places of worship, contemplation and adoration. Francis walked to encounter Christ in people, places, animals and nature. Our footsteps offer some opportunities to connect with the Saint who renounced self to serve God and others.
No comments:
Post a Comment