Isola di Procida is filled with faith.
The natives make up a community with strong religious belief which is the foundation to everything here. There are ten Chieses (read: Churches) on the Isola of Procida. They dot the landscape from west to east with at least one Chiese in each of the island's districts.
The island is small, measuring only 1 mile by 2 miles, and her flock of 10,000 residents do not have to travel far to renew their faith. Yes, they are all Catholic Churches. There is little room left here for other places of worship.
Over the past ten days, we have walked in the path of the faithful and entered these beautiful places of worship. That is all but one. S. Maria della Pieta (1616) is located the Porto district and its doors remain closed on each of our visits.
We are clearly outsiders. Deciphering the time of day when the heavy wooden doors are yawning open has been a challenge for us.
Our pilgrimage down Vespa filled streets and up cobblestone streets is more often than not greeted with tightly sealed wooden lips. Our daily reminder that we are visitors and do not know this place.
Our persistence has paid off.
Once inside - the hidden pearls are revealed. Dry, crusted and seemingly neglected buildings house astonishingly beautiful alters to faith.
Painted walls and high ceilings immediately take one's eye towards heaven. Like a cyclops - the Chiese's single eye, its oculus, looks heavenward to flood the sanctuary with light and blanket the faithful with warmth. The light effect changes with each passing minute or cloud creating an eternal show that one never tires of seeing. It is easy to understand how faith is renewed here.
The clang of bells reminds us of our fleeting time on Isola di Procida and scatters us back to the noisy streets for another pilgrimage.
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