This happens every year, that I miss a day for reason, which seemed unavoidable at the time, and then I cant remember what we did and have thrown away yesterday's schedule so there is no help there! Sorry. If it comes back to me I will fill in the day later.
Today we went to two sanctuaries which is unusual on this pilgrimage. It was caused by Fonte Colombo having a wedding this morning. So we went to La Foresta where the people who came flocking to Francis, ate all the priest's grapes from his vineyard but Francis made it up to him. We had Mass for Mother Earth to support the climate change protestors and I spoke as a homily. It seemed to go OK! Then we had time there and Mondo X, that group of young-ish men who are a rehabilitation group based on the rule of Francis, one of them spoke to us, nice man called Bruno. He was a bit older than sometimes and seemed more relaxed. He said he had been there for 27 years, he gave some of us a bunch of lavender and everyone a sun warmed tomato each. The. i asked him about the wonderful deep red geraniums which are always such a feature there and he gave me two cuttings to take with me and said he thought the secret was that they fed the plants with donkey droppings. He may well be right! Perhaps the sheep we had were a mistake!
After some time there for reflection we hopped back into the bus and returned to Oasi for pranzo. At 4.00 we were back on the road. The day was beautiful, clear blue sky and full sun, temperature just dropping from the upper 80s. In the distance was the range of Mount Terminillo high against the sky. There was no snow on it as yet though once or twice there has been at this time-of year. We had to drive right across the Rieti valley to La Foresta but only along to the other end of it for Fonte Colombo. This meant we had a good look at the valley, the sunflowers all dark brown and drooping, waiting for harvest. In one or two fields they had been harvested already and the stalks were being burnt. I saw several fields of millet, the first time I have seen it here. Most of the verges are left long for flowers and there are certainly a lot growing beside the roads. The old grey horse who was here last year is still here in his field with his three goats. It is hard to believe in climate change in these wooded hillsides, but the FMDM sisters from Zimbabwe tell me they have had no rain for four years, hard and rather frightening to imagine.
Once at Fonte Colombo we went into the church and learnt about the Rule and some of the conflicts around it. They then moved on to the Magdalen chapel where Murray talked about the Tau as there is one drawn on the wall thought to have been done by Francis. Then to the St Michael chapel where, with lighted candles, they have a short liturgy of recommitment to Franciscan values, which they really entered into and seem to have appreciated very much. We were there for about two hours allowing some reflection and 'look around on your own' time and then back into the coach for Greccio. At pranzo there was a big group from Malta and the noise was something else! Tomorrow we will have Mass at 9.00 (Murray and me) and an introduction to Assisi from Andre then into the coach and off to Assisi. They landed a week ago today but have really gelled as a group and are very pleasant and easy to deal with.
I will send this off and do some advance packing for the morning. At the next chance I will write up yesterday which was the celebration of Christmas at Greccio and an amazing Christmas lunch in the little village of Greccio. All for now, love to everyone from ft
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