My Pilgrimage to Assisi, Part IV
Other important attractions at the sight of the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels are the Rose Garden and the Rose Chapel. The entrance to the garden is through the sacristy of the Basilica. Here he invited the turtledoves to praise God together with him and the doves used the hands of the Statue of St. Francis in the Rose Garden for nesting.
There is a great story behind the roses seen at this garden without thorns. Once, St. Francis felt the temptation to abandon his religious life and to accept the worldly life. To overcome his doubt about his vocation he rolled naked in the bramble thorns. In contact with his body, the bramble bushes turned into dog roses without thorns. Ever since the rose bushes in this garden are without thorns.
Again, it would be hard for us to understand and accept the Franciscan way of overcoming temptations. But at the same time, I think it would be better to discipline ourselves to overcome temptations rather than willingly submitting ourselves to continue living in sin. Saints are people who successfully found ways to stay in a state of grace rather than submitting themselves to all kinds of temptations.
The Rose Garden opens the way to the Rose Chapel. After overcoming his temptation in this way, he spent his time in prayer and penance in this cell which later was transformed into a chapel. I could only think of several ways I should follow Francis in overcoming my own attraction to the worldly things. Our Christian life invites us to imitate Christ in every way, rather than making a selective reading of the teachings of Christ to suit my own needs and interests.
The chapel is decorated with several frescoes by different painters. It includes the Umbrian Tiberio d’Assisi depicting the early Franciscan community and the first saints of the order, the miracle of the roses, and the concession of the indulgence.
The friary house also has a museum which contains several sacred articles, beautiful paintings, and archeological finds. The Crucifix by Giunta Pisano (1236), a wooden painting portrait of St. Francis from the 13th century, a painting of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata, and Coronation of Mary are among the few attractions in this chapel.
The painting of St. Francis receiving the stigmata is based on the actual event of St. Francis receiving the five wounds of the Crucified Lord on his body. As we all know, St. Francis is the first human being to receive the stigmata of Christ. It happened when Francis and his companions were praying at mount La Verna in 1224. The account of this incident is transmitted to the future generation from Brother Leo who was also present at that time. Felix Timmermans, in his The Perfect Joy of Saint Francis, retells the story in his famous biography of St. Francis.
Francis’ soul yearned for God, and in preparation for the feast of St. Michael, Francis and his friends went to mount Al Verna. As it became impossible for Francis to walk further, his companions asked a peasant, whom they saw on their way, for his donkey to carry Francis. When the peasant realized that it was Francis of Assisi, he exclaimed: “Well then, take care to be as good as they say you are, because many people have put their trust in you. So I beg you, never do anything that will destroy our faith and hope!” Even when his Brothers became indignant at the peasant’s remark, Francis kneeled down, kissed the peasant’s feet and thanked him for the warning.
Then they continued their journey to the mountain until they reached the hermitage there. Francis spent the night praying there. He asked his brothers to leave him alone there and only Brother Leo was allowed to come near him with water and food. He asked his Brothers to spend their time in prayer and thus they spent many days praying. As Francis was absorbed in prayer, he saw the infinite depth of God’s beauty. But whenever he opened the gospels he repeatedly had to read the passion of Christ. Then Francis understood what God was telling him through the Scripture. He then slowly uttered: “To be like Him in His suffering and torment, before death comes! Lord, be merciful to me!” In that intense moment of contemplation he received the stigmata, thus giving him a bigger share than most us in the suffering of Christ.
The city of Los Angeles is named after the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (according to an article published in Los Angeles Times March 26, 2005). The Spanish Franciscan missionaries were among the early settlers in that region which they originally called “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the Porciúncula River” now famously known as LA or Los Angeles.
Again, it would be hard for us to understand and accept the Franciscan way of overcoming temptations. But at the same time, I think it would be better to discipline ourselves to overcome temptations rather than willingly submitting ourselves to continue living in sin. Saints are people who successfully found ways to stay in a state of grace rather than submitting themselves to all kinds of temptations.
The friary house also has a museum which contains several sacred articles, beautiful paintings, and archeological finds. The Crucifix by Giunta Pisano (1236), a wooden painting portrait of St. Francis from the 13th century, a painting of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata, and Coronation of Mary are among the few attractions in this chapel.
Francis’ soul yearned for God, and in preparation for the feast of St. Michael, Francis and his friends went to mount Al Verna. As it became impossible for Francis to walk further, his companions asked a peasant, whom they saw on their way, for his donkey to carry Francis. When the peasant realized that it was Francis of Assisi, he exclaimed: “Well then, take care to be as good as they say you are, because many people have put their trust in you. So I beg you, never do anything that will destroy our faith and hope!” Even when his Brothers became indignant at the peasant’s remark, Francis kneeled down, kissed the peasant’s feet and thanked him for the warning.
Then they continued their journey to the mountain until they reached the hermitage there. Francis spent the night praying there. He asked his brothers to leave him alone there and only Brother Leo was allowed to come near him with water and food. He asked his Brothers to spend their time in prayer and thus they spent many days praying. As Francis was absorbed in prayer, he saw the infinite depth of God’s beauty. But whenever he opened the gospels he repeatedly had to read the passion of Christ. Then Francis understood what God was telling him through the Scripture. He then slowly uttered: “To be like Him in His suffering and torment, before death comes! Lord, be merciful to me!” In that intense moment of contemplation he received the stigmata, thus giving him a bigger share than most us in the suffering of Christ.
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