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You are at > Life in Italy > Religion > Saintly Relics I |
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You are at > Life in Italy > Religion > Saintly Relics I |
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Saintly Relics of Italy IPopular PilgrimagesBe Sure to continue to Part II of this article! Click Here! Italy is home to some of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Christianity, attracting millions of faithful each year. For European pilgrims, Rome was traditionally the ultimate destination, and while the Eternal City is still and important pilgrimage site, there are many others throughout Italy that are equally important and immensely popular. The popularity of pilgrimages started to wane during the Protestant Reformation but it never died out completely. Visitors to Assisi and Padua are sure to see modern pilgrims making their way to the shrines of these ever-popular saints. Today, pilgrims do not necessarily walk to their destination as they did in the past. Pilgrims can choose to walk the route to a particular shrine or travel by car, public transportation or as part of a religious tour group. And although pilgrimages end by praying at the resting place of a saint, a pilgrimage can include visits to numerous other locations that bear significance in the saint's life and teachings. Below are some of the most popular pilgrimage saints and holy shrines in Italy outside of Rome.
The Saints of Assisi: Francis and Clare Assisi is the town of Saints, with three buried within its walls and two of them immensely popular with pilgrims. Saints Francis and Clare, the cornerstones of the Franciscan Order still attract thousands of pilgrims for both their intercessory powers as well as for inspiration. The words and deeds of Saint Francis, so full of love and compassion for all his fellow creatures have influenced many believers and non-believers alike, transcending the traditional role of a Christian Saint. By his side was Clare, a noblewoman who like Francis renounced the material world for a life of poverty, chastity and obedience in order to better serve God. There are many shrines in Italy dedicated to Saint Francis but a pilgrimage to these two saints of Assisi can be done in and around the famous hill-town. Major sites to include in a Francis and Clare pilgrimage include the Cathedral of San Rufino, where Clare and many of the early Franciscan brothers were baptized. The Convent of San Damiano, once a ruin was where Francis was called upon by God via a crucifix to "build up his house". After the restoration of the church, Francis had Clare and her "Poor Ladies" use San Damiano as their convent. Below the hill of Assisi lies the massive Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the location of first Franciscan monastery. The church encloses the Franciscan's original chapel known as La Porziuncola in which a plenary indulgence (forgiveness of sin) is offered to any pilgrim who prays in the simple stone structure.
The ultimate destination for pilgrims to Assisi however is to pray at the graves of Saints Francis and Clare. Francis is located in the crypt of his beautiful namesake basilica in Assisi in a stone coffin surrounded by his early Franciscan brothers. Across town lies the Basilica di Santa Chiara, home of Francis' miraculous crucifix, headquarters for the Poor Clares and site of the saint's tomb. Besides the bodies of these saints, the two basilicas also house numerous personal relics such as their humble clothing and a lock of Clare's hair. These second-level relics are on display in the church museums and also brought out for the faithful to see during special masses. Continue to Part II of this article to learn more about the Saints! Click Here! Sources/For More Information:
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