Sanctuary

Sunday morning found us not at church (malheurusement), but at Clos Luce, which was, in its own way, a sanctuary, holy ground. Our couple of hours at Clos Luce offered nourishment for heart and soul. This is the castle where Leonardo Da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Leonardo’s words, mounted on plaques throughout the chateau, spoke to us of his wisdom, of truth, as he saw it, and of light…across the centuries. Translated from the French….

"What can stop hatred but love?"
"A day well lived gives a good sleep. A life well lived gives a tranquil death."
"It is necessary to contemplate. It is necessary to think: the one who thinks little is fooled much."
"Wisdom is the daughter of experience."
"Strength comes always on the other side of an obstacle."
"It is easier to oppose yourself at the beginning that at the end."
"Love triumphs over all."
"If you want to stay in good health, follow this regimen: do not eat anything without the desire for it."
"The water ranges the mountains and fills in the valleys. If she wanted to, she could reduce the world to a perfect sphere."

Reading words like these, we were surrounded by reproductions of some of Leonardo’s drawings and paintings, beautiful furnishings, and classical music playing softly in the background. In his bed chamber, where he died, is his beautiful rendering of the annunciation to Mary—a print of which I purchased There were also drawings, explanations and small models of some of Leonardo’s inventions. Beyond the chateau are gardens with life-size models and reproductions of his works. Huge canvasses hung from the trees bear the likeness of some of his works. Also nestled among the plants, water, and trees were Leonardo’s sketches, revealing the close student of nature that he was.

Prolific inventor, problem-solver, and artist, Leonardo was an inquisitive student not only of nature, but also humanity and human systems. Many of his inventions, we discovered, were attempts to solve the problems of cities or make wheels or gears move more efficiently. Some were pure flights of fancy, such as a design for a helicopter and a contraption with wings like a bat that was an attempt to make it possible for humans to fly. We wandered, we marveled, and we were moved to gratitude for the gifts and the legacy, not only of Leonardo, but also for all who made it possible for his gifts to be expressed and preserved. Leonardó’s years at Clos Luce were the gift of King Francois I, himself a dreamer who must have seen in Leonardo a like-,minded soul…and thus opened the space for him to work. The chateau and its accoutrements have been carefully preserved and are reverently displayed. Some of the models of his inventions were rendered b y IBM.

Clos Luce invites us to see, as he did, the possibilities beyond the limits of our own minds. Although the "congregation" with whom we gathered was tourists and the experience was the celebration of the gifts of a human being…it had the fingerprints of God all over it. For those who have eyes to see and ears to heart and hearts to understand, Clos Luce is also a witness to the manifold expression of the gifts of God – visible in nature and flowing from God’s creative and beneficent hand to animate the mind of Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo was able to see and think and imagine way beyond his day. In his own words…"I plead to God, light of all things, to enlighten me, so that I may treat with dignity the light." Amen.

Blessings to all,

Cheryl