Ave Maria Meditations
In the year 1224 St. Francis of Assisi went to Mt. LaVerna to fast and pray for 40 days in preparation for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. During his retreat Francis, during a dream, heard an angel play a violin as it is heard before God and that one note was so beautiful that Francis felt he was already in heaven.
At midnight on the eve of the Feast, Francis prayed for two favors: ” I want to feel the pain of Christ in His Passion; I ask for the love that moved Jesus to die for our salvation.” A vision of fire came down from heaven and in its midst was the crucified Christ as a Seraphim. The image touched Francis and imprinted Christ’s five wounds on him. In his heart he felt pure, divine love.
