Two Weeks In

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Ciao a tutti!

Kevin and I have finished our second week of classes here in Assisi. We’re certainly making good progress in our Italian, but there is certainly a lot more work to be done before we reach proficiency.

After a long day of 6 hours of Italian class, my favorite thing to do is visit one of the over 10 churches in Assisi. The uplifting architecture, beautiful art, and tangible history of the lives of the saints form for the soul a catalyst to deeper prayer.

So far, my favorite places to pray are the tomb of St. Francis, beneath the lower church of the medieval Basilica of St. Francis, and Chiesa Nuova, a small, baroque style Franciscan church near our hotel. Both of these chapels are small and simple which I find makes them perfect places to be simply before our Lord in silent prayer.

The Basilica of St. Francis

Chiesa Nuova (Assisi)

However, as Kevin mentioned in the last blog post, it can be difficult to find silence in these churches because of the constant flow of tourists and pilgrims. Praised be God for drawing so many souls to peer into the mystery of His love found in the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. Nonetheless, it can really be distracting when trying to enter into silence after a long day of Italian.

This experience has led me to a deeper reflection. More often than irreverent tourists, there are many other distractions that become obstacles to good prayer, that is, to the deep interior communion our Lord invites us to.

In my own experience, I have and continue to encounter many obstacles to prayer. Even now, there are frequent temptations in the form of distracting thoughts, or sometime simple laziness, which make it difficult to pray. Anxieties, temptations, struggles, uncertainties. The devil seems to use these often on those who are trying to grow in the interior life.

I read an excerpt from one of St. John Marie Vianney’s catechesis yesterday (which was his feast day) that really helped me on this topic. St. Vianney wrote that the devil presents many trials and temptations to the souls that have decided to surrender their wills to God’s Will.

So what do we do when our efforts to grow in intimacy with our Lord are constantly met with challenges?  We must remember the basic truths we know about God: namely, He is our creator Who desires that we live in His truth which sets us free. St. Francis and St. Clare are awesome examples of young people who persevered through many temptations, struggles and sufferings, all for their love of God. May their intercession, along with that of St. John Vianney, encourage us to persevere in love through our own trials, including the struggle to find quiet time for daily prayer.  

For the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Prayer, click here.

For some other pictures, including some from a day trip to Perugia, click here.

Downtown Perugia