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St. Frances Medals
A symbol is a visible sign commerating a person, a thing, an idea,
or of a mystical experience. The use of symbols is a very ancient
practice, dating back to its very beginnings. Today a normal Christian
practice, once the use of symbols was considered evil or satanic.
In the Catholic Church the Seven Sacraments represent physical
symbols in the reality of great mysteries that can not be seen.
For example, baptism uses water and oils to physically show us
the action of the Holy Spirit bringing us into God's family. Another
example is the Eucharist, the presence of bread and wine to symbolize
the actual transubstantiation of Christ's Body and Blood
Symbols have been used to tell us the stories of the saints throughout
the history of the Church. Since we have not met them and do not
know what many of the saints looked like, we use symbols to tell
us about them. Whenever we see a statue or icon of a saint, their
symbol is almost always shown with them to help people know who
is being shown and to remind them of their story.
Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints. That is
the belief all the holy people who have died are in heaven with
God and praying for the rest of us to be able to join them someday.
Saints are examples of how to behave, how to be holy, how to stay
strong in faith with Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father.
Saints are commerated with medals, pendants, necklaces
and statues. St. Frances is especially commerated by blessed St.
Frances medals, St. Frances necklaces or other kinds of Saint
Frances jewelry, St Frances of Assisi gifts. St. Francis of Assisi,
Patron Saint of animals is also commerated by many kinds of garden
and yard adornments and statuary.
St. Francis of Assisi d. 1226-confessor was well known for
his love of nature. In his love of all people he wished to
share the Gospel of Christ with them. Pictures of Saint Francis
often portray him holding a bird. The bird represents his love
of nature, but it is also a symbol for the human soul. One story
tells how St. Francis stopped on a journey to implore a field
full of birds to sing God's praises at all times. It is said the
birds flew away singing.
Saint Francis is Patron: against fire; of animals; of Catholic
Action; of dying alone; ecology; the environment; of families;
lace makers; merchants; peace; zoos; Italy; Assisi, Italy; Colorado;
Sante Fe, New Mexico; archdiocese of San Francisco, California;
archdiocese of Denver, Colorado; archdiocese of Sante Fe, New
Mexico; diocese of Salina, Kansas
Saint Francis of Assisi Symbols include pictures, pendants,
charms of St Francis holding birds and animals; Statues of St.
Frances or Pictures of St. Francis portray a bag of gold and rich
raiment at his feet; Paintings of St. Francis of Assisi portray
him with a winged crucifix with five rays; receiving the stigmata;
standing beneath a crown of thorns; before a lighted lamp; on
fiery chariot; St Francis of Assisi protector of animals is portrayed
with an array of birds; deer; fish; skull; wolf; fire.
The San Damiano Cross of St. Francis is the cross was
praying before when he received the commission from the Lord to
rebuild the Church. The original cross presently hangs. All Franciscans
cherish the cross of Saint Frances as the symbol of their mission
from God. The cross is called an icon cross because it contains
images of people who have a part in the meaning of the cross.
The tradition of such crosses began in the Eastern Church and
was transported by Serbian monks to the Umbria district of Italy.
The San Damiano Cross was one of a number of crosses painted
during the 12th century in Umbria. The name of its painter is
unknown. The purpose of an icon cross was to teach the meaning
of an event and in order to strengthen the people's faith. There
is very little literature concerning the San Damiano Cross available
in English. Most information is written in Italian or French.
The Rosary recited under certain conditions on the feast of the
Most Holy Rosary, Aug. 6, gains a plenary Indulgence. It has been
called the 'Portiuncula' of the Rosary but has no direct connection
to the Holy Rosary. The Rosary was created by St. Dominic after
he received a vision from the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Dominic
is said to have met with St. Francis when Saint Francis made a
pilgrimage to Rome during 1217-18.
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