leaving Assisi today

15th March 07
Boungiorno
It's another glorious day in Umbria. The sun has been shining for the last 3 days. Today it must be about 24 - amazing.
Yesterday I went to Montefalco a beautiful train and bus ride through the countryside. There is another famous 'Francis' fresco there by Gozzoli. Don't worry I had never heard of these artists before.
When I returned to Assisi Sister Denise had told me about a concert at the lower Basilica at 6.30pm so I went there. Something 'big' was about to happen. There were lots of religious including bishops with their cerise skull caps. It was in fact a sung mass in Latin, the singing lead by a musical group including a superb female soprano. It was a really big event - the Holy Roman Catholic Church at its most splendid. A large group of priests all in purple vestments for Lent, followed by 2 bishops with their mitres on, and a sway of altar boys or men holding candles, crucifixes etc. There must have been at least 100 priests, to add to the atmosphere, incense was being dispersed everywhere and the choir were reaching a crescendo. I really don't know what it was all about but obviously a special mass, involving holding up a large white mass book. A very special event to witness.
Apparently there is an Italian liturgical music conference in Assisi at the moment mybe that had something to do with it.
Must go catching train and bus to Cortona today.
Ciao
Gerri