The confrontation with his father left Francis penniless and naked in front of others. The bishop covered him with a cloak, and this moment is still commemorated today at the Santuario della Spogliazione, the Shrine of the Renunciation, located in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. 

Having renounced both his possessions and his inheritance, Francis left the city and went to Mount Subiaso. This mountain, just outside Assisi, became a place of solitude and prayer for him. 

At this stage in his life, Francis pursued holiness alone. Only later would others join him. On Mount Subiaso, he found a cave in a forest of oak trees that became his hermitage. There, he spent long periods in prayer and reflection, seeking to understand how the Lord was calling him to serve. 

Over time, the area would include a simple cloister, the Well of St. Francis, and the Oratory of St. Mary. Together, these form the Eremo delle Carceri, the Hermitage of the Prisons. Along with the nearby Porziuncola, this sacred place would become central to Francis’ life and to the Order he would later found. 

Solitude can be unsettling. When we are alone, our thoughts can wander, our prayers may feel uncertain, and our fears can surface. Yet Francis trusted that this time apart was exactly what he needed to discern God’s will for his life. 

This week, let us not be afraid of moments of silence and solitude. May we trust that God meets us there and uses that quiet to guide us more clearly along the path He has prepared for us.