BODY OF CHRIST ONLINE GALLERY
Celeste Lauritsen, “San Damiano Crucifix”

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Over 800 years ago, in Assisi Italy, St. Francis “heard” the voice of God speak to him from the cross of San Damiano saying, “Francis, rebuild my church, for as you see it is falling into ruin.”  Initially, Francis took these words literally and set about to rebuild the old church stone by stone.  Eventually he had so many followers that the church, “the body of Christ” was being rebuilt by living stones; those followers of Christ who also heard the call to rebuild the Body of Christ.  We are still involved in that rebuilding today.

 

The fabric crucifix is telling the contemporary story of this continual rebuilding of the “Body of Christ”.  We are joined in this rebuilding with the help of those saints and angels who have gone before us.  The cross is hand painted, and uses heat transfer and stitching to complete the hanging.  It may also be used as a processional cross.