Virtual Pilgrimage Day 1

Today in Assisi…

Our pilgrims arrived safely in Rome and made their way to Assisi for the first day of pilgrimage!

Listen to the morning talk, “The Spirit of a Pilgrim” by Jeff Runyan, Founder of Encounter Travel, here:

Listen to the daily homily by Fr. Cole Kennett, Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Lincoln, here:

View the exclusive content below:

Read the daily recap with Joshua Burks:

Ciao from Assisi, Italy, otherwise called the “city of peace”—and peace indeed occupies these streets. 

Today our pilgrims began their journey at the Papal Basilica of St. Francis with the opportunity to learn about its many details and frescoes from a local friar, for prayer and reflection, as well as to offer a private Mass in the chapel of St. Bonaventure. I sincerely hope you take the time to listen to Fr. Kennett’s homily and Jeff Runyan’s opening reflection as they movingly set the tone for our pilgrims here on the ground. 

One thing that has stuck with me throughout this first day in Assisi is the close association of Francis with Our Lord, Jesus, displayed throughout the alleyways and churches of this town. Through the years, St. Francis has been commonly referred to as the “mirror of Christ.” This can be observed in the many ways in which the life of Francis mirrors the life of Christ in the many frescoes that line the naves of the sanctuaries in his namesake basilica. 

The most moving part though is that our Lord extends this same grace to you and to me to become his “mirrors.” Let us use this time of pilgrimage to allow the Lord to radiate in our lives in new and deeper ways, after the heroic example of Blessed Francis!

I look forward to sharing more with you tomorrow from what Assisi has to offer on our first full day here. 

Yours in Christ Jesus, 

Josh