June 12, 2012

La Santa Messa

I shall probably get in trouble or be found offensive for skipping school today. There's no class, but instead a field trip for cultural learnings here in lovely Umbria. It seems to me to be the sort of thing for the average student at the place, who seems to be much younger than me. Sorry; I did my semester abroad bit. Not that I was attentive to my cultural learning then either, but you can't go back and change the past. So instead of trudging around in the hot rain learning to appreciate the particular genius of the Etruscans, or whatever, I'm here at the friary planning to study my morning away. Besides, in my defense, I have started to read I Promessi Sposi (in English.) That's my nod to my cultural appreciation.

On the positive side, it was a grand thing this morning, for the feast of Blessed Florida Cevoli, for me to be the principal celebrant at Mass in Italian for the first time. (Florida (1685-1767) was a Capuchin Poor Clare. She succeeded St. Veronica Giuliani as abbess.) I was grateful to have my first time on an easy day; it was just the other foreign priests and a few other friars assisting, and no homily was necessary. For the Universal Prayer, they have a book of prepared intentions. It's actually pretty good; in the States I'm usually not impressed with such things. I'm really struggling with emphasis and pronunciation, but I think I did o.k. for where I am in the learning process. After Mass one of the friars complimented me on my voice projection, which was probably his way of saying something nice when he couldn't say that I had said the words properly.

Grateful for all that, off I go to the books, so as to use well this time when I should be at school. Here's a picture of another favorite friary sight. As I come up the stairs from my room in the morning, on my way to the chapel for Morning Prayer--this is about six or so--out of the window on the landing I get this view of the Basilica of St. Francis.



7 comments:

Benedicta said...

Liked the view...

Barb Szyszkiewicz said...

Beautiful window view! I love pictures like that.

As to pronunciation, isn't Italian (like so many other languages) very regional in pronunciation, idioms and vocab? Guess I'm wondering why, if you'll be working in Rome, they've got you studying in Assisi. Is the Italian of both areas close enough?

timh said...

follow these girsl! (choir)
CJA Choir's Rome Pilgrimage
https://www.corjesu.org/choir

Greg said...

Unfortunately, my only trips to take in the Umbrian culture have been visits to the local wine megastore that has imported a wonderful Umbrian wine. Usually, I save it for a breaking bread dinner or for priests who visit.

Brother Charles said...

Oh! I shall look forward to it. :)

Mairie said...

A view I haven't seen in a few years but close to my heart. It would be a distraction from the books!

Terry Nelson said...

Thinking of you while you are in Assisi.

I stayed there a very long time, I had a room in a convent guesthouse. I also made a solitary, week-long retreat in the apartments of St. Joseph Coppertino in the Sacred Convent. I hope you are given a double portion of the spirit of St. Francis!