Now before placing the Crucifix of San Damiano in its place over the
high altar the monks settled that it should be carried in solemn
procession through Assisi. "But," writes the angry chronicler, "those
who had joined this diabolical conspiracy against our Crucifix were
not slow to prevent this, and had recourse to the Inquisitor of
Perugia, who was induced to send his vicar to stop the procession, and
bid the monks of San Damiano to keep their Crucifix hidden and allow
no one to see it." There arose a terrible storm in the troubled
community of Assisi, between those who took the part of the
"persecuted Crucifix" and those who sided with the jealous canons of
the cathedral. Finally, the case was placed before the Pope himself,
and all waited anxiously the result of his investigations. A duplicate
of the Crucifix of San Damiano was sent to Rome that it might be well
examined by the Pope and the whole college of cardinals, and they not
finding in the pious Brother Innocenzio's work anything contrary to
the teaching of the gospel, it was unanimously decreed that the
Crucifix of San Damiano might receive all the homage and love of the
friars and citizens. So on a burning Sunday in August solemn high mass
was sung at the altar of St. Clare in San Damiano and, although the
friars were defrauded of their procession, such was the concourse of
people who came to gain the plenary indulgence granted by His Holiness
that the good friars rejoiced, and were comforted for all the
persecution they had suffered on account of this marvellous Crucifix.
What must have been the feelings of Brother Innocenzo as he stood by
the high altar and watched the crowd of worshippers and the women
lifting up their streaming eyes to the crucifix he had fashioned in
his cell? The devotion to it grew as the years passed on, and we read
that a century later the monks were obliged "for their greater quiet
to transfer it from the choir to the chapel," where it now is, after
which the monks could say their office in peace. Now we see it
surrounded with votive offerings, and our guide pours forth an
incessant stream of praise, and recounts at length numberless
miracles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account