Blog Archives

More gratitude~

9/25/2013

My prayer pattern here in Florence has changed dramatically with the arrival of my daughter. We have been on the go walking, visiting museums and churches, and eating. The routine of personal prayer shifts when one goes from solitude to community, from extended, freedom of time alone, to intense togetherness with shared choices of what to do.

All of this is just fine with me. We are having a marvelous time. But I am aware of how important it is to have some time alone for prayer. For many, their obligations out in the world make it very difficult to find or to take time for God. That’s not the case for me. I’ll be home in a week with my husband and our quiet routine, where I’ll have time for prayer, lots of it. "Very grateful."

Badia Florentina, a place to pray~

9/23/2013

I have discovered a most prayerful church, Santa Maria Assunta Church in Badia (abbey) Florence, the present home to The Monastic Communities of Jerusalem in this city. The order’s mission is ‘to live in the heart of the city in the heart of God.’ According to its brochure, their vocation could be summed up in Jesus’ prayer in John 17.15: Father, I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. How easy it is, especially in our ‘spiritual’ moments, to condemn the secular world. But no, the monks and nuns of this order tell is to pray and meet God in the city. ‘Through a life of contemplation and community, they want to reach out and serve all the men who seek God.’ Um, isn’t that what many of us strive to do?

I love this church because of this mission and because it is a peaceful place to pray: it is not a tourist attraction. The 1330 bell tower is recognized in the majestic panorama of Florence, but the medieval interior was radically restructured in 1627. And then there is the sign on the door that invites people into the quiet of prayer. There is no other way once you enter.

Mary for all ages~

9/22/2013

I’ve always been attracted to the wooden Madonna and Child statues crafted in Umbria, and lately I’ve felt a particular affinity toward Mary—maybe because I am a grandmother and Mary doesn’t look like a young virgin in her teens.

Umbrian artists seem to know that regardless of age we continue to experience the possibility of birthing anew; our reproductive power is not the only creative power that we possess. Life is much more expansive than that.

Walking along with St. Francis~

9/20/2013

Here’s the prayer story behind the duck, cats, butterfly, chickens and lizard that I wrote about yesterday on my cottage blog. It all started along the Arno when I met a stunning duck parading up and down along the wall. Before I knew it I thinking about St. Francis: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.’

As I continued on across the Ponte Vecchio, spirits lifted by the presence of St. Francis, I knew that I’d see more animals, two at least, maybe three. But then they kept coming, St. Francis’ energy flowing between us. No fear, up close was safe.

Then to top it off, as I made my way to San Miniato, I noticed a church on the path. A simple church, the Church of San Salvatore al Monte, a Franciscan church, of course.

Early morning prayer~

9/18/2013

The apse of Santa Maria del Fiori (the Duomo) includes three spacious chapels. Each morning, beginning at 7:30, Mass is said in one, leaving the others available for early morning prayer before the church doors open to the tourists at 10. The other morning I went some prayer time, not to participate in Mass, but to sit quietly in one of the empty chapels.

But there was no silence to be heard. Mass was being blared over loud speakers, and I mean loud--perhaps due to the exuberance of the priest. I left and went to my neighborhood church of Santa Trinita, where all was quiet.

Orsanmichele, a good place to pray~

9/16/2013

There are plenty of churches in Florence but that doesn’t mean there are plenty of place just to drop in and pray. For example, there is a line to get into the Duomo unless you go early in the morning to Mass. Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce and San Lorenzo charge an entrance fee, and then, almost like an afterthought, designate a section free of charge for prayer. I never find these roped-off areas very satisfactory for prayer. I feel that I have been designated to a second rate section, pushed aside, reluctantly accommodated for wanting, ‘god’ forbid, to pray in church.

Well, I might as well face it, there are more tourists that prayer people in Florence, and the churches need entry fees to maintain the building. And yet…. how extremely sad. Perhaps something to pray about.

Orsanmichele, which I’ll write about in a future acottagebythesea.net blog, is an exception.

Prayer photos~

9/14/2013

I want to share a few prayer photo of my visit yesterday to the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery. When visiting Florence (Pisa and Siena, as well) you can’t miss this trinity of buildings. In the cathedral I lit a candle for a dear friend; dazzling mosaics adorn the interior of the Baptistery; although I have no photos of the bells proclaiming 12 o’clock noon, believe me, they were calling us LOUD and CLEAR to worship.

Early morning Uffizi visit~

9/12/2013

Fra Angelico

An early morning (8:15) return to the Uffizi. With my pass I was the first one into The Rooms, the 13th and 14th century rooms, that is. Today’s mission: study Mary’s pose in annunciation scenes. Michael Baxandall, in Painting & Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy, describes “five successive spiritual and mental conditions or states attributable to Mary,” with disquiet and submission being the most common.

1. Disquiet
2. Reflection
3. Inquiry
4. Submission (humility)
5. Merit

     In disquiet, Mary has just heard the news. More specifically, she may show that she is reflecting on it; or maybe she is inquiring, as in Luke’s gospel, “How can this be…?” Regardless, her hands are outstretched in these first three states..

     in submission, however, Mary’s hands across her breast, indicating that she has accepted God’s call to bear the Son of God and that the spirit has entered her. In the fifth state, she is alone on her own merit, without Angel Gabriel. The annunciation is over.

     Although the Renaissance painter followed certain standards that were subjected to the interpretation of the viewer, everyone knew the general rules.

      As I wandered the Uffizi this morning, did I observe Mary’s disquiet in Botticelli?

Was Leonardo depicting an inquiring Mary?

Is disquieted the best way to interpret Simone Martini’s Mary?

I’ll have to go back to the Convent of San Marco and Fra Angelico’s Annunciation to find the most submissive Mary I know.

Lighting a candle~

9/10/2013

Every day I light a candle for someone or some situation. Usually I include several names, for isn’t that the way with prayer? Rarely is just one person involved although often one individual is pivotal. If someone has an addiction, many are effected; same with heart surgery, cancer, depression…. More often than not ‘it’s a family affair.’

If you have prayer request, send me an email. There are plenty of churches and candles in Florence.

Praying in Santa Trinita and St. Croce~

9/9/2013

This morning I started out at Santa Trinita, ‘my neighborhood church’ as I call it. The women were just finishing the rosary when I came in. This time I situated myself so I could see Lorenzo Monaco’s Annunciation, Ghirlandaio’s Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds, Desiderio da Settignano’s Mary Magdalene, an anonymous Crucifixion, and a crucifixion and ascension in Mariotto di Nardo’s Trinita Altarpiece. As I wrote last year, these pieces draw me in. The Jesus I’m looking for, want or need is right there before me.

I then walked to the Church of Santa Croce and spent the rest of the morning wandering about the San Franciscan Basilica. Donatello’s Annunciation and Giotto’s fresco cycle of The Live of St. Francis again drew me in. Next to the church in first cloister is the Pazzi Chapel, Brunelleschi’s renaissance gem. But my favorite is the second cloister, also designed by Brunelleschi. Every time I visit St. Croce, I return there to sit. This morning I brought my knitting along—a soft alpaca cowl, # 5 circular needles. A prayer shawl is too cumbersome for travel, but a prayer cowl is just right.