Stfrancis

St. Francis of Assisi was traveling through San Damiano one day, when he found a small, run-down church. Since St. Francis was just learning about prayer and listening to God, he decided to stop and visit. What he found inside was a large wooden crucifix that included a crowd of people. It was different than most of the crosses we see in churches today. Jesus is not a lonely, desolate figure, but a triumphant savior surrounded by angels and by the people who loved him. There were more than a dozen figures on the cross and even an animal. St. Francis liked the cross very much. And as he began to pray with it something important happened, but that is another story.

Project One:

Help children compare a few different crucifixes for what they tell us about Jesus. Find and print a few examples by conducting a google search for crucifixes, especially large images. Be sure to include at least two actual crucifixes so the children can touch them. You might also share part of the Good Friday ritual with them.

Project Two: Click here for PRINTOUT

First Impressions. First, we look at the San Damiano Cross and talk about St. Francis and the story of the image. If you have a child like our Nolan, who is a middle-school social studies enthusiast, this discussion will elicit many questions: Who is St. Francis? When did he live? Did he meet any kings?

Then, looking at the cross itself, we ask the children, “Who do you recognize?” With young children, we might start by making it a game: “Let’s find everyone who’s wearing blue. . . . Can you find the people who are talking to each other?” And always, each of us shares what we especially like about this icon.

Digging deeper. Just exploring each of the figures and objects depicted on the San Damiano Cross can make for many interesting Lenten discussions. There are thirty-three figures in this icon, including God the Father (represented by a hand), Jesus, Mary, the apostle John, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, the Roman centurion, fourteen angels, some unidentified saints, a small boy, and a rooster.

Ask, "What was it like to be with Jesus on that day?" What did Mary see, hear, and feel? What about the centurion, Mary Magdalene, and St. John? And what was it like for Jesus to have them nearby? Then we can imagine ourselves at the foot of the cross. What would we say and do? What do we want to say to Jesus now?

Draw yourself in. After sharing some of these thoughts, create a “San Michael or St Tiffany cross” to use as a focus for Lenten prayer. On a large poster board, we trace an outline of the San Damiano Cross with only Jesus in the middle (if there are no artists among you, just print a copy of the cross off the Internet and paste only the Christ figure onto your poster). Then each family member draws themself near Jesus—or pastes in their photo.

Once when six-year-old, Ellen, was busily drawing a picture of herself standing next to the cross. She looked up and asked, “Is it okay if I draw myself with my hand on Jesus?”

“Yes,” I replied. Ellen grew very excited at the thought, and then we had a good discussion about different ways we can touch Jesus through prayer and service to the poor. And I remember how little Betty’s innocent query—“How are we all going to fit in the picture?”—got us talking about God’s love for all mankind.