Convent of the Visitation, Treviso
A visit to the Convent of the Visitation in Treviso to venerate a relic of St François de Sales and thank the nuns for praying for a friend’s miracle — leading to an unexpected and moving encounter with his incorrupt heart. (4 min read)
I was up early today to get the train to Treviso to venerate a relic of St Francis de Sales and thank the nuns at the Convent of the Visitation for praying for his intercession for my friend, Jan.
I rewatched a video about this saint’s life on the train and felt uplifted by his gentleness and loving way. It took about 10 minutes to get from the train station to the convent by taxi and the walk back to the historical centre was about an hour).
I had been in email communication with the convent but, expecting no one could speak English, I had my explanation ready. No one was surprised by my friend’s miracle but they were surprised by my offering (50 euro).
Unexpectedly, I was shown to the sisters’ private chapel adjacent to the church. What followed was a game of charades between the nun and me. She was making bizarre Mexican wave gestures which I interpreted as demands for me to kneel. She ultimately gave up and left me to my prayers. Later, when I was in the church itself, I realised the nun was inviting me to pull back a curtain behind which was the incorrupt heart of St Francis de Sales!
It was very moving to be in the presence of this relic and, as there was no priest around, I prayed over the rosaries and channeled energy into them in this saint’s name. In retrospect, I regretted not revisiting the nuns’ chapel and touching the relic myself.
The walk back to the historical centre was grounding but there was not anything of interest for me there. In fact, the places on Happy Cow that interested me the most were all closed! I ate something unremarkable and got the train to Padova.
© Paul McCarthy & Iluminar.au
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