St. Francis and St. Clare

St. Francis spent the last season of his life and illness in San Damiano under the care of St. Clare and the Poor Sisters. In this sculpture, St. Francis shows St. Clare his stigmata, demonstrating that a life identified with Christ is a call to suffer and to serve. Her posture and position reference Mary of Bethany, seated at the feet of Jesus. Visually, we recongnize that St. Francis was an image bearer who shared in the life and sufferings of Christ through the manger-like chair in which he sits, the bowl and towel at his feet, and the physical stigmata upon his hands. Inscribed inside the bowl are Jesus' words to the disciples as he washed their feet: "As I have done for you, so you should also do." (John 13:15) St. Francis points us to Christ and invites us to follow him.

bronze | 3/4-life size | edition of 9