St. Francis of Assisi - San Juan Bautista, CA
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 36° 50.755 W 121° 32.172
10S E 630509 N 4078779
This sculpture is located in the church at Mission San Juan Bautista.
Waymark Code: WMRVD1
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/07/2016
Views: 3
This sculpture is one of six works set behind the main altar a tthe church at Mission San Juan Bautista. It depicts St. Francis in a somewhat different fashion as usual Here he is seen standing in his friar's garb holding a large crucifix in his left hand. Usually he is depicted with a bird or other animals.
This website (
visit link) has additional photos and informs us:
"St. Francis of Assisi was founder of the Franciscan Order and patron of animals."
Wikipedia (
visit link) adds:
"Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: San Francesco d'Assisi), born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, informally named as Francesco (1181/1182 – 3 October 1226), was an Italian Roman Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.
Pope Gregory IX canonised Francis on 16 July 1228. Along with Saint Catherine of Siena, he was designated Patron saint of Italy. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October."