Hello everyone! Today we left the hustle and bustle of Rome for the peaceful country side of Assisi. On our way, we stopped at one of the great Benedictine sites: Monte Casino. The abbey at Monte Casino is a very impressive structure that can house over 300 monks. We were welcomed with a hospitable Benedictine welcome, and were able to celebrate a Gregorian chant mass with the monks there. This, of course, is a very important site as we owe many of the Catholic institutions of North Dakota to our Benedictine heritage. Now we’re off to Assisi and will spend several days in the steps of some of the greatest saints, Francis and Clare!