~ E. E. Cummings
"The photographic image... is a message without a code."
~ Roland Barthes
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams
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St. Francis~ the patron Saint of animals
~St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio~
A legend tells that in the city of Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, was a big black wolf "terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals". Francis had compassion upon the townsfolk, and went up into the hills to find the wolf. Fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, though the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf, he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. "Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil...", said Francis. "All these people accuse you and curse you... But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people". Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger”, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the wolf. Francis, ever the lover of animals, even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs, that they would not bother the wolf again. It is also said that Francis, to show the townspeople that they would not be harmed, blessed the wolf.
Without a doubt the most beautiful Church I Have ever been inside of..
~ She is Kateri Tekakwitha. Known as Lily of the Mohawks, she joined the well-known statue of Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy in front of Santa Fe’s St. Francis Cathedral in 2002. Santa Fe’s Archbishop commissioned a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha to honor the Native American spirit. A painting of Tekakwitha also joins a number of other saints on the church's altar screen.
~ From the fragrant beds of lavender to the bronze statues that greet visitors from all over the world.. ..The St Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places of worship I have ever visited.. just a few steps from the busy plaza it is a welcome place of rest and stained glass beauty.. Set into the church's courtyard is a tile Labyrinth.. My son and grandchildren enjoyed following the tiles from the starting point to the center while I sat on one of the shaded benches and watched. The Cathedral welcomes visitors and is open from 6am till 6pm Monday through Saturday.. and from 7am till 7pm on Sundays.. except during mass.. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend a visit to this Beautiful old Cathedral.. 
Have a great day!
Patsy
2 comments:
I would love to see this church; I enjoyed viewing and photographing some of the old churches in Maine, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia when Becki and I went... St. Augustine is beautiful too with its old churches... btw St Francis has always been a favorite of my family and he guards my momma's yard to this day!
The Cathedral was elevated to a Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Basilica means a church of particular importance in Rome and abroad. Churches are honored by the Holy Father because of their importance in the history of spreading Catholicism. and I do think it is one of the most beautiful I have been to. When you visit next time we can take you to the Loretto Chapel as well, which is beautiful, and houses the miraculous staircase.
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