S.Damiano's Church
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S.Damiano's Church
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History of the church It was in a state of abandon when, at the beginning of his spiritual conversion, St. Francis entered there. When he saw the church set on the rolling hillsides of Assisi, he wanted to go in to pray and, kneeling before the crucifix, he began to pray to the Lord. The image of Christ said to him, "Go Francis, and repair my house, which is falling into ruin." The young man went home, took as much fabric as he could from the shop of Pietro di Bernardone, his father, and went to Foligno. He returned to San Damiano with the profit he had gained, but the priest who took care of the church recognised him and, fearing his father's wrath, refused to accept the money. Thus, Francis tossed the money out the window that can still be seen at the entrance to the little church. This was the main episode that links San Damiano to Franciscanism. The saint returned to the church a number of times, but he came mainly to visit Clare of Assisi and San Damiano was connected mainly with her. St. Clare live there from 1211 to 1253. St. Francis stayed there for a longer period of time in 1225 when, tired and ill, he composed the Canticle of the Creatures. The body of the Poor One was brought there on 4th October 1226 following his death at the Porziuncola, as the procession carried his body to the church of St. George. Clare and the sisters bid him their final farewell on October 4 th. |
Clare's life at San Damiano was marked by prayer and contemplation as well as a number of miracles, such as the multiplication of the bread and oil, several miraculous cures and the sign of the cross that appeared on the bread placed before the pope. Even more important were her brave actions when, in 1240 and 1241, she miraculously drove away the Saracen and Tartar mercenary troops hired by Frederick II. The troops had gone into the monastery to lay waste to Assisi. The second miracle occurred during her last days when, unable to attend an important ceremony at the basilica of St. Francis due to illness, she nevertheless saw the entire event from her sickbed. Because of this, she was recently proclaimed the patron saint of television.
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