The seal of the Franciscan Order depicts two arms place over the cross of Christ. The bare arm of Jesus on the cross; the robed arm represents the arm of St. Francis of Assisi. The placement of both arms together represents St. Francis’ ardent desire to more fully unite himself with the love and sufferings of Christ. Two years before he died at the age of 44, after a night of prayer, St. Francis had a vision of a winged seraph nailed to across; he also felt intense stabs of pain in his hands, feet and side. Afterwards he discovered that his body was permanently marked with the five wounds of Christ crucified, call the Stigmata.
Catholic Church Community Serving Hermosa Beach, CA