This morning the buses zipped through the farms of Umbria into Tusca
ny where the wild boar is the mascot. We climbed the hills of Siena to reach the Church of St. Dominic, which
houses the head and thumb of
St. Catherine of Siena. At our Mass at the main altar, Fr. Martin L. King shared a moving homily. Despite the loss of his voice, he said, “A pilgrimage is from a holy place in our hearts to other holy places. God calls you to listen to His holy word and take His message to others to make more holy places.”
Many of us walked over 12,000 steps through the rough terrain of the ancient, narrow streets. A common comment was made about the things that would not be “up to code.” Stairs varied from 3 inches to 12 and we leaned on the handrails as often as one was provided.
The three-hour walking tour highlighted many interesting historical and architectural perspectives. We visited the site of St. Catherine’s childhood home where the original floor is displayed. The adjacent church, built in 1375, holds the crucifix from Pisa, where she received the stigmata. The city’s cathedral, known as the Duomo, took over 600 years to complete. The busts of the popes serve as crown molding there with many artistic works to enhance the sacred space. Finally, the guide brought us to the Plaza de Populo to see the city center where horse races promote” friendly” competition between the seventeen neighborhoods of Siena.
At the hotel’s dinner, the conversation was lively since people have gotten more comfortable with each other. Laughter rang out from the tables throughout the evening even though tired feet called us to rest. Many heart-felt stories have been shared as we have been touched by the graces and blessings of the journey.
We continue to carry your prayer intentions with us. Thank you for your prayers for us.