Earlier, I mentioned I was leaving for five weeks of holidays with most of those days to be spent in Italy. I also mentioned that I had an agenda, which I was unable to share at the time.
I am now free to share that upon flying to Europe I spent five nights in London and then proceeded to Assisi where I spent one night with the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement. I was planning to travel to La Verna by train and bus the next day but a group of Austrian pilgrims overheard my conversation with a priest from Ireland and offered me a ride as they were going that way after breakfast. La Verna, for those who might not know, is the place where St. Francis received the Stigmata. After a day there, I began to walk the Camino Francesco. It is a total of 350 km but my intent was to walk to Assisi, a distance of 194 km according to my iPhone health monitor.
I walked from La Verna to Pieve Santo Stefano, Sanselpolcro, Citta di Castello, Gubbio, Pietralunga, Valfabbrica and finally to Assisi. I will write and post a few pictures about this on my return but let me simply say that, in scorching sun and fantastic thunder, lighting and rain storms I walked up one mountain and then down and then up the next mountain, across the valley and up and down again. It was a challenge! But I have survived to tell the tale and no, I did not sleep in caves!
You can read more about this camino by accessing http://www.viadifrancesco.it/en/(northern route).
I am presently enjoying a few days of rest in Assisi and it is from here that I wish to say Happy Father’s Day to all you dads and those who take their place in our lives as we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend. Fatherhood is a marvellous vocation and an opportunity to raise your children to take their rightful place in society and our Church community as mature, well-formed individuals who will contribute in a positive way to the future development of both. We don’t hear sufficient positive things about fatherhood but it is a marvelous vocation that needs to be held in high esteem. My prayers for all dads, living and deceased will be offered at Sunday Mass.
Photo courtesy Caminoways.com