St Francis of Assisi’s reliquary

First class relic, bone of the saint.

Ornate reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross, with authentication alongside.

Close up of a splinter from the Cross

A view from across the grounds.

Facade of St Francis Assisi Church

A mosaic of Francis is over the front door “greeting” you as you arrive… it’s Francis depicted as receiving the stigmata. (Don’t know what that is? Go look it up.)

A view from the rear balcony

Inside the dome.

The tabernacle, complete with cherubim, reminiscent of the Ark of the Covenant.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help. (Yes that is all marble from several different European countries.) (This is kind of rare to see in the States.)

St Teresa of Avila

St Rita of Cascia

St Rose of Lima

St Joseph with the child Jesus

St John the Evangelist, and beloved disciple

I love this depiction of Martha and Mary of Bethany with Jesus.

This one stirred me… Jesus in Gethsemane — the agony in the Garden.

“Ecce Homo” = “Behold the man.” (What Pilate said about Jesus.) (And yes, those eyes are amazing. I never before felt like stained glass was staring at me till I saw this one)

Entrance to Chiara Center – where tomorrow 100+ women from the Diocese of Springfield will come for our women’s conference together.

One more of St Francis, from the grounds.