The thought of a whole day trip to three different and distant places made me hesitant of our trip yesterday. However it was already planned and I agreed to accompany my superior who is in Rome for a ‘course’ organized by our General Curia. I know beforehand that the trip will be long and exhausting so I made some early preparation. Besides, I have never been to those places and thought the opportunity is timely. We traveled the long road of Aurelia until we reach Civitavecchia then made a turn towards Viterbo where we visited a medieval Cathedral which houses the incorrupt body of Saint Lucia Filippine. The place has the typical county side atmosphere from its houses and business establishments to the way people dress and behave – very relaxed and simple lifestyle.
Then we headed to Orvieto which Wikipedia described as “a city and comune situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff in the Province of Terni, southwestern of Umbria, Italy. The site of the city is among the most dramatic in Europe, rising above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs that are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone called Tufa.” This is my second visit to the place and the Duomo (Orvieto Cathedral) never ceases to amaze me. All my superior and I uttered continuously was “wow, amazing!” The Cathedral houses the corporal that was used during the 13th century Eucharistic miracle in a nearby town of Bolsena. Aside from this, the city of Orvieto is also famous for its ‘underground city’ which we failed to visit due to time constraint. Hopefully, a third visit will lead me to ‘explore’ the city more.
It took us one and a half hour to reach Siena, famous for its medieval landscape, cuisine, and horse race which the city holds every year. But our interest is in the famous Dominican Saint, Catherine who is the patroness of Rome, Italy and Europe, and one of the few female Doctors of the Church. Her incorrupt head is enshrined in one of the altars of San Domenico church. We also visited her home where the religious ceremony for her canonization took place. Providentially, we met the ‘manager’ of the book shop who is very accommodating and well-mannered Sienese. He allowed us to take photos to our heart’s content, gave us a considerable discount for the books and souvenirs we bought from the store, and even encouraged me to do my Italian language in Siena. He added that the Dominicans are his second family. 
Running late, we hurried to Assisi where we hope to visit St Francis’ and Clare’s convents respectively. The trip was tough because it was that time of the day where religious holds it ‘sacred’. Moreover, we haven’t had a decent meal. But once we arrived at the site, the ‘sick’ feeling was turned into excitement and admiration. Beating the clock, we immediately visited the tomb of St Francis which was placed under the Cathedral. The Cathedral is adjacent to the Priory of St Francis which from each angle ‘imprint the poverty’ of the friars. We know they are rich but what we do not know is how rich they are. 
We are very fortunate to meet a friar from China who showed us around the convent. The refectory of the priory itself attests how the friars minor are living simply with an ‘elegant attitude.’ By the time we leave the convent, we already have the idea on how rich they are.
On the other side of the hill stands the church of St Clare of Assisi which by the time we reached the place, it was already closed. Fr Vincent tried to convince the church’s security but to no avail. Instead we just enjoyed the view and took photos as much as we can. All in all it was a visit worth keeping and thanking for. Visiting places of God’s great saints is an occasion which our thirsting, hungry and weary soul can benefit from. I am especially inspired and invigorated to follow the lead of the ‘Author of Light,’ which we praise in the ‘Canticle of the Sun,’ and whose body we adore in the ‘Monstrance.’St Catherine of Siena, pray for us!
St Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
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