Monday, July 2, 2012

Hoop Scoop: San Damiano Cross

Our designer has been hard at work in the creation of new designs to add to our gallery in the coming months. This month brings the addition of two Franciscan designs, the first of which is our own simplified version of the San Damiano Cross:




THE SAN DAMIANO CROSS 

Our beloved Saint Francis did not start out life as a fiercely devout and pious man. His early years were spent indulging in the extravagances available to those born to money and privilege. As he approached adulthood, however, he found himself in crisis, searching for deeper meaning in his life.

This inner conflict led him to the deserted church of San Damiano in his hometown of Assisi. It was here, praying before the San Damiano Crucifix, that Francis first heard the Word of God. "Francis, go and rebuild my house, which is falling into ruins."

When Francis heard these words, he responded by quickly taking up a collection to restore the churches of Assisi, which were in disrepair. Through his efforts, many chapels and churches were rebuilt.

Francis eventually realized that God was not merely asking him to restore chapels, but to rebuild His Church around the world as a community. Francis responded with decisive action. He embraced a life of poverty, prayer and service, and began to preach the Word of God.

The San Damiano Cross is an "icon cross," meaning it contains not just a depiction of Christ, but icons of various people and scenes relevant to the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Cross is in the Eastern style and was crafted in Umbria, Italy (the region where Assisi is located) in the 12th century. It is made of painted walnut and measures 75 inches high, 47 inches wide, and slightly less than 5 inches thick. The original Cross is now located in the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi; a replica hangs in the San Damiano church.

History of the San Damiano Cross from the Franciscian Fathers Website


Coming up later this week... Our signature edition of the Franciscan Crest in stitches!



Sincerely in Christ,
Mary






3 comments:

  1. Where do I get this embroidery pattern?

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    1. Thank you for your interest in the San Damiano design. Though our designs are available for purchase in stitched form, that does not extend to the sale of our design files. Each design is made exclusively by our company and is copyrighted, not allowing for duplication in any form outside of our business.

      We do however, offer our services to the public in custom formats. If you have a project or item you are working on (or, if you choose an item within our shop) and would like to have our design applied, we are more than happy to stitch out what you would like as a custom order!

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  2. is it possible to get this design embroidered on a stole for a catholic deacon? If so, what would it cost and how do I go about ordering it?

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