[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Story Section” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ custom_padding=”0px||25px||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||18px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”4px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
Walking through a castle, as one does in Italy, enjoying the shops and the people, we came across the Church of Sant’Agostino, a small church built in the 13th-century. The church is in between shops and across from a charcuterie (meat shop). I think an odd juxtaposition. The front is nondescript, and one wouldn’t necessarily notice it if merely focused on pretty shop windows. However, I will take any opportunity to sneak into a courtyard, abandoned building, back alley, and side street to find interest and adventure.
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Upon walking inside this ancient building, you don’t have to be a ‘believer’ or a history buff to feel the enormity of its history and symbolism.
Unfortunately, vandals were destroying the church and it was in a state of disrepair so now volunteers keep vigil. The volunteer that day was a lovely man. He was passionate about the church and its history. I remember he had kind and wise eyes. We connected immediately and with Cathy’s help, had a wonderful and moving conversation. I told him about my mother, a devout Catholic and her run-in with the church. It was a dispute over reincarnation. She believed in it and the church did not, so they parted ways. Even after that ridiculous rigid and hurtful nonsense, mom remained a devout Catholic. She may have stopped attending church, but we could hear her pray out loud to Jesus, Mary and of course, God. She also prayed to St. Anthony to help her find her glasses and the TV remote control.
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My gracious hosts, Cathy and Enrico from Solebello, were wonderful to let me wander (while keeping an eye on me), answering questions and acting as my interpreter while I chatted with many strangers and shop owners.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Church-entrance.jpg” title_text=”Church entrance” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Built-in-1285-1.jpg” title_text=”Built in 1285″ align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Mary-and-baby-Jesus.jpg” title_text=”Mary and baby Jesus” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
*Note to evangelical Christians: Mom understood, as do all Catholics, that there is only one God. A few christians have told me Catholics aren’t Christians because they believe in different Gods. No, no, they only believe in one God but they also like to have chats with the other characters. Mom praying to Mary for the safe return of our soldiers, or asking St. Anthony to carry home the souls of the dead she would read about in the daily obituaries (yup, mom prayed for strangers) didn’t mean she thinks they are “Gods”. They are assistants. God is busy.
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Damaged Fresco
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Please note: I don’t want to minimize the centuries of crap from the church. I don’t mean to be a downer, but without a brief acknowledgment of the massacres, secrets, and dark history of the church, I am doing a disservice to the truth. It’s important that we call out institutions from religious, sports, academic to political for their inequitable and, at times, brutal treatment of people.
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That said, it’s hard to not marvel at the art, symbolism, a couple of corpses encased in glass, and the sheer length of time these walls have witnessed the development of Italian civilization. This church has survived many attacks and it still stands holding those stories.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Possibly-Mary-Magdalene.jpg” title_text=”Possibly Mary Magdalene” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
I confessed (inside Catholic joke) to the docent I’m a reformed Catholic and as I explained this little more he didn’t blink an eye and we shared understanding and respect.
He then took us into a locked room where the public isn’t allowed. For centuries the priests received communion in the privacy of that room. It was surreal.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/In-the-special-room-for-priests.-.jpg” title_text=”In the special room for priests.” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-door-leading-to-the-private-room-1.jpg” title_text=”The door leading to the private room” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1222px” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
Regarding the last picture, the one of Mary with long hair, my Roman Catholic friends say they never see Mary with long hair and think it’s Mary Magdalen. Ambrogio Lorenzetti painted many of the frescos in this church. Could it be his nod to Mary Magdalene?
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/St.-Padre-Pio.jpg” title_text=”St. Padre Pio” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/I-lit-candles-for-my-mom-dad-and-all-the-parents-whove-lost-children.jpg” title_text=”IMG_1084 – Version 2″ align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/More-damage-1.jpg” title_text=”More damage” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Mary-praying.jpg” title_text=”Mary praying” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fresco.jpg” title_text=”Fresco” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]