I went to the San Francesco Church (they spell Francisco differently), which is one of the three churches that are walking distance from our dorms. I marveled over the beautiful paintings on the wall, the statues of the saints, and the simplicity of the wooden pews. I loved experiencing the mass, and saying the prayers in English to myself while hearing everyone else speak in Italian. It was the same feeling that I had when I went to mass in the Philippines. The experience of sharing the same faith, and knowing that people are worshipping the same exact way other people are in other parts of the world, is heart-warming and humbling. If there’s anything I’m learning here in Italy, it’s that people living thousands of miles away from your home can be more connected and similar than you could possibly imagine.
The wooden pews inside San Francesco church.
A place for private prayer with the crucifix of Jesus in San Francesco church.
This past Sunday on July 5th, I attended my first Catholic mass in Italy. Going to mass here was a special moment for me, because ever since I began planning this trip, visiting the churches was on the top of my list of “must do’s”, alongside of trying the Italian treats like gelato and canoli!
View of the altar in San Francesco church.
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Beautifully integrated word and visual. I feel as if I am invited in to discover with you one of your “must dos” in Italy!