The Curator’s Corner:

Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

In the Sanctuary of the Basilica, above the High Altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Tabernacle, you will find four portraits in mosaic. If you stand at the opening (gap) in the communion rail and look to the left, the first mosaic is of St. Rose of Lima (the first person born in the Americas to be canonized a Saint); the second is our Blessed Mother; the third is of our patron Saint Francis of Assisi; and the fourth is St. Emidius (Patron against earthquakes).

The Mosaic of St. Francis is a replica of a fresco painted in 1278 by Cimabue. This particular fresco is located in Assisi, Italy, in the lower Basilica of San Francesco. It is one of the earliest portraits of the saint and reproduces a strong likeness of him, as recorded by his first biographer, Brother Thomas of Celano.

St. Francis of Assisi, the son of a wealthy merchant, was born at Assisi, Italy, in the year 1182. Baptized as Giovanni (John) Bernardone, nicknamed Francesco (Francis) by his father; abandoned extravagant lifestyle after sickness, civil war imprisonment, and vision, which led to personal conversion through prayer and penance(1205); heard voice from crucifix in San Damiano Church near Assisi say “Francis repair my house which is falling into ruin” (1207); Francis rebuilt churches, severed family relations, renounced possessions to serve “Lady Poverty” and “love the poor” (1207 to 1209) formulated a program based on observance of the Gospels after hearing the words of Matthew 10:6-16 during Mass (Francis was not a priest).

"Go…after the lost sheep…cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons. Provide yourselves with neither gold or silver nor copper in your belts; no traveling bag, no change of shirt, no sandals, no walking staff…What I am doing is sending you out like sheep among wolves. You must be as clever as snakes and innocent as doves."

 To be continued…..