On August 1, 2024, a photographic exhibition on the autograph chartula of St. Francis was inaugurated at the Sacred Convent in Assisi. The exhibition is presented in Italian, English and Spanish and is located in the upper loggia of the cloister of Sixtus IV. It was curated by Professor Attilio Bartoli LANGELI, an expert and historian in the field of Franciscanism.
The chartula is a parchment note handwritten by St. Francis after he received the stigmata at La Verna. This very precious relic is preserved at the Sacred Convent. It indirectly testifies, through Francis’ words and writing, to what happened at La Verna and the impression that the stigmata made, not only upon Francis’ body, but also upon his soul.
The exhibition is entitled: “Encounters That Leave Their Mark.” It emphasizes, particularly during this anniversary year of the stigmata, how the chartula allows for a deeper understanding of the spiritual experience of St. Francis. On one side of this parchment, Francis wrote the Praises of God Most High―a prayer of high mystical and literary value. On the other side, he wrote his famous Blessing for Brother Leo in response to some suffering and spiritual discomfort that Leo was having. Thus, the chartula speaks about St. Francis’ relationship with God, but it also reveals something about his evangelical friendship with Brother Leo.
The exhibition will remain open through November 30, 2024.
Interested friars, institutions and associations may obtain permission to reproduce the exhibition elsewhere, free of charge, as our friary in Castelvecchio Subequo, Italy, has already done. To request permission, contact the communications office of the Sacred Convent at: direzione@sanfrancesco.org.
Friar Giulio CESAREO
