Simple Peace Retreats in Assisi, Italy

29/04/2026

Dear Francis,
Today I feel moved to write you. I know you enjoy spending your
days on the mountaintops where it is only you, your friends the little
creatures, and Sister Wind carrying your soul to sacred realms. But we
need you. The people need you. We need your words, which fly directly
from your heart to the heart in all of us. Ordinary words from the minds
of men have difficulty reaching the heart. But your words are flowers and
stones, rain and sunshine of only truth. There is no possibility to judge
or find some way to push them away. Francis, we need you to come
down off the mountain and support us all to unlock God’s love hidden
within us.
When the local priests talk about God or holiness the people yawn
and close their ears. The people listen and quickly put the words into
their pocket and continue their day. But God, holiness, these words are
the proven way, feeding the hungry little bird of every soul. Francis
when you use these words it is like a sharp arrow that breaks through
everyone’s self-importance and cuts into the soul where the real treasure is found. The heart’s full path is too precious for defensiveness,
judgments about Mother Church, and all the excuses we have not to
pursue the Golden Realms. When you say the word holiness everyone
sees your open arms. Holiness pours out of your nakedness and washes
our heart. We need you Francis to tell the secrets you find on the
mountaintop. Tell us about holiness which comes out of a great humility of seeing how human we are. Speak to us about holiness, the small
light deep in the heart. When we give, offer ourselves to this small
light, holiness grows. It is as if emerging out of a dark cave. The light,
God’s light expands and expands inside of us. It is an immense light
going forever!
Thankyou Francis, thankyou for your all and everything!
Clare
The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi
Available from Amazon

Meditation Retreats
Assisi, Italy AssisiRetreats.org
Santa Barbara, California SilentStay.com

28/04/2026

Dear Clare,
Recently some of the brothers have come to me insisting that I make
a rule for all the brothers. What should they carry on their journey?
What possessions should they keep in their small hut? One brother asks
if he can have a walking stick. I say no if this stick means he will lean on
it instead of leaning on God inside of him. Why would he want to carry
a walking stick when carrying God in our heart is more than enough?
Another brother asks if he can keep his books. I ask him why would he
want a busy mind full of all kinds of things when we could enjoy a calm,
peaceful heart full of God?
But Clare to be honest, these problems are the small things to be
concerned with. What do I tell the brother who is possessed with pride?
He gave up his worldly possessions and now thinks he is so special. And there is the brother who is always trying to tell others what to do. He thinks he is God’s general, but as far as I know, God has no need for soldiers, no less generals. There is the brother who gets angry over small things not going his way. Many of the brothers find need for comfort when in fact they already have everything they could possibly want. Then all the brothers, myself included, are way too serious too much of the time. Where is our joy? How do I tell the brothers
to give these possessions away? These are the things which can stick to a
soul, leaving God little room to surface in our heart. If our heart is possessed by so much self where is there room for love?

Love is God’s perfect instrument. Meanwhile, Clare, you and me in
our small little way, we just are what we are. Truly, God knows everything in our heart. Instead of being so focused on what we should not
have and not be doing, maybe we should just focus on the joy. Every
moment, every day is so much joy, so much God.

The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi
Available from Amazon

Meditation Retreats
Assisi, Italy AssisiRetreats.org
Santa Barbara, California SilentStay.com

24/04/2026

The Bells of Assisi!
Letter from St. Clare to St. Francis of Assisi

My dear Francis,
Francis, I know there is only one reason to be truly excited and
this is when our Lord visits us in our hearts. But regarding Earthly
news, I must tell you while many worry about wars and lack of food in
the coming winter, my sisters are singing and bathing daily in the light
within their hearts. I too had a dream, Someday Kings and Queens, the
rich and powerful, people from all over the world, will be coming to
Assisi not to judge you but to ask how they can join you on your path.
What will you tell them? Will you ask them to throw their riches into
the river? Will you tell them to give all their power away? Francis, are you
ready for the world to be at your feet like the little birds in your garden?
Imagine everyone with one prayer, one heart, asking “Lord make me an
instrument!”
Peace, Francis, peace—this is what you should teach! Let them keep
their possessions. Let them keep their worldly power. Share with them
the simple peace. This is enough. Tell them about the beauty of peace in
every moment. Give them the simple steps that you and I know so well.
Step by step, peace and more peace with everyone and everything. This
will be a good beginning. Once they feel the peace, what do riches and
power have to offer? Why would they chase after earthly comforts when
they have life’s true treasure? Once they feel the peace inside what else is
of value but wanting to serve one another?
Everyone wants peace, Francis, but they do not know the source of
this peace. You must teach them. Real peace comes only from a peaceful
heart! And a peaceful heart comes from finding so much God inside that
there is no room for anything else but peace.

The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi
Available from Amazon...

Silent Retreats
Assisi, Italy AssisiRetreats.org
Santa Barbara, California SilentStay.com

23/04/2026

The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi

Dear Clare,
I hope I am not intruding upon your silence.
Thank you for your recent letter. To have your heart so close
is a blessing with no beginning or ending. Yes, there is much light and
tears. It is amazing how much of the Divine our small human heart can
feel. All I can do is keep a small nest in my heart for the Divine to come
visit and rest as She wishes. This is enough.

Recently, I was walking through the villages and heard so many
people talking about the new coming of our Lord. Don’t they know He
is already here? Don’t they realize he is no further than our hearts? I don’t
understand why the Church gives voice to these rumors. The longing the
people have could be satisfied so quickly if they turned it inside, if they
let go and fell into the arms of our Lord within.

Thank you for being your light, you’re All.
We sit in the silence, the beautiful garden of our hearts.
Thank you for being my true friend and lover of God.
Truly yours,
Francis

The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi
Available on Amazon.
More information: AssisiRetreats.org SilentStay.com

22/04/2026

A Love Letter from St. Clare to St. Francis of Assisi

Dear Francis,
Words are never large enough or small enough to write to you but
I try again. Buena sera, good evening. I always think about you at
this time of sunset. It is during this hour that I put aside everything about
the day which is not important and hold to my heart our inner path, the
love we know. It is a good practice. I can safely say that my small light in
the garden of my heart has become a diamond. I feel quite strong and God
shines very bright. In a few hours in the dark of night, I will be sinking
inside to our Lord in gratitude. Then I go to sleep. Thank you, Francis, for
leading me on this path of chasing God, instead of worldly things. Thank
you for showing me it is not really a chase at all, but rather a great finding,
finding God always very close at hand, as close as my heart.
Francis, we share the true relationship. Many couples live together
under one roof and never share what we know together. Certainly, I miss
sometimes not having more time with you in the small moments of life.
Then I think of most couples living with one another day after day, but
so separate from each other in their thoughts and feelings. Francis, we
have fallen in love, again and again landing in the great heart, the garden
that extends forever. The eternity we know is the true poetry of life. The
canticle you share is music for the heart inside every heart.

The Love Letters of St. Francis & St. Clare of Assisi
Available on Amazon

19/04/2026

https://youtu.be/uEKMTMKlKYc?si=Ta5C5TpmkVEUmHhy
Meditation: The Gift of Emptiness
Holy Poverty of St. Francis of Assisi

Meditation: The Gift of Emptiness

12/04/2026

Italy is the place to be...
Assisi is the place of peace
Retreat is where we open
To the presence, the joy
Of life itself....

Spiritual Retreats!
Assisi, Italy AssisiRetreats.org
Santa Barbara, California SilentStay.com