Salve, studenti di UT San Antonio!
This week, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts’ students abroad visited the enchanting hillside city of Assisi. This is where Saint Francis, the patron saint of ecology, began his mission of divine peace. People from all over the world flock here to visit the former home of Saint Francis and his devout follower, Saint Clare. When people are not visiting one of the saints, they are likely exploring the natural beauty within Assisi by wandering through one of the several natural reserves in the city.
Edmond Cartagena and Sofia Cabada led a tour of Assisi during this trip. Cartagena began by discussing the importance of Saint Francis in the city of Assisi and his journey to renowned sainthood. He noted that after Francis had a prophetic vision, the saint started restoring a church in Assisi known as San Damiano. This mission of his led Francis into a life guided by Christ-like humility. This humble attitude is what allowed Francis to be so connected to the world of ecology. The Assisiano saint became so connected to nature throughout time that he referred to the elements of nature as “brothers” and “sisters.” He is also known to have preached to lambs, fish and birds, all of which were interested in hearing his message.
Cabada focused on Saint Clare for her part of the presentation. Clare was taught by Francis, and ultimately followed in his footsteps. She founded the second Franciscan order, which is known widely as the “Poor Clares.” These women were known for their widespread benevolence, which was based on poverty. The Poor Clares built a community, which was quite different for the period, as it was uncommon for women to hold important societal roles. Clare’s order also lived in humility because they wanted to connect to groups who were closer to poverty, as they believed that this was the way they were meant to live if they were going to serve a divine purpose.
Assisi is known for the presence of these two very important saints and remains an important religious center to this day. Its beautiful medieval streets blend well with landmarks such as the 14th century castle Rocca Maggiore and the wildlife trail called Bosco di San Francesco. At Rocca Maggiore, visitors can see the rolling hills from the top of Assisi, and they can envelop themselves in the spirit of the patron saint at Bosco di San Francesco. The spirit of Assisi creates a warming and pleasant environment for visitors of all backgrounds.
Next week, the class of COLFA students will say goodbye to Urbino. It has been a beautiful voyage; however, all good things must come to an end! Read the final article next Tuesday, and do not forget to keep up with academics abroad by following @lettersfromurbino on Instagram.
Alla prossima, Studenti. Ciao!
