#The Flowers of St. Francis

[monstrousgourmandizingcats]

4 & 9 for the historical asks?

4. Favourite historical era?

1930s-1950s, but I'm also developing strong interests in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries lately, mostly because of the museums I work/have recently worked at, and I have a longer-standing interest in the High and Late Middle Ages (and contemporaneous events in Asia) as well.

9. Favourite historical film?

My favorite movie in the historical fiction genre, if that's what this is asking, is probably either Francesco, giullare di Dio or A Room with a View.

I’ve seen plenty of “Tumblr Ask Challenges”, but none involving history. What a shame…

[byneddiedingo]

Nazario Gerardi in The Flowers of St. Francis (Roberto Rossellini, 1950)

Cast: Nazario Gerardi, Severino Pisacane, Aldo Fabrizi. Screenplay: Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, Félix Morilón, Antonio Lisandrini. Cinematography: Otello Martelli. Production design: Virgilio Marchi. Film editing: Jolanda Benvenuti. Music: Renzo Rossellini.

After his great Neo-Realist films Rome, Open City (1945) and Paisan (1946), and just as he was beginning his relationship with Ingrid Bergman, Rossellini made the sweet-natured The Flowers of St. Francis, which combines some of his Neo-Realism (the use of non-professional actors) with some of the moral questioning he does in the four Bergman films, especially Europe '51 (1952). Based on two 14th-century books that retold legends of the life of St. Francis and his followers, The Flowers of St. Francis consists of a prologue and nine episodes. The actors, who were Franciscan monks, are not credited, although Francis was played by Brother Nazario Gerardi and the key role of Brother Ginepro by Brother Severino Pisacane. The only professional actor in the film is Aldo Fabrizi, who had worked with Rossellini in Rome, Open City. Fabrizi is the monstrous tyrant Nicolaio, who torments Ginepro until he is won over by the monk's gentle endurance of all the ills inflicted on him -- at one point, Ginepro is used as a human jump rope, then dragged around Nicolaio's camp behind a horse. The title of the film in Italian is Francesco, Giullare di Dio, meaning "God's jester," and the moral lesson constantly taught in the film is that of self-abasement to the point of ridicule. In a key episode, Francis and another friar go in search of perfect happiness. They find it when they go to the house of a man who repeatedly refuses their plea for alms until he finally beats them and kicks them downstairs. Then Francis explains that true happiness is to suffer in the name of Christ, a moral lesson not unlike the one learned by Irene Girard (Bergman) in Europe '51, where it's expressed in more secular terms. The screenplay was written in collaboration with Federico Fellini with consultation from two Roman Catholic priests, though the film is much lighter in tone than that suggests.

[dramoor]

"We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear."

~St. Francis de Sales

(Photo © dramoor 2024 Colorado)

[rabbitcruiser]

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, CA (No. 4)

St. Francis is a Certified Sustainable, family-owned Winery, and we have worked throughout our history to preserve Sonoma County’s natural resources. The state-of-the art Winery we built in 1999 includes a 457-kilowatt solar energy system, and we have been recognized for our work to conserve nearby creeks and waterways. Preserving Sonoma County for future generations is very much a part of who we are, what we do, and how we run our business.

Our Winery and stunning mission-style Tasting Room is in the heart of Sonoma Valley surrounded by estate vineyards. The bell tower houses a 1,000-pound bronze bell cast by the Marinelli Foundry in Italy. It chimes every hour and can be heard throughout the valley.

Source

[the-mediaeval-monk]

Oh the inherent eroticism of wishing to take the skull of your beloved fellow monk to use as a vessel to eat and drink from in honor of their memory

[thatscarletflycatcher]

One of the main curses of having attended and worked at Franciscan school is the knee jerk reaction every time I see Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace being attributed to St. Francis (it's probably not older than 1912, anonymous, and made extremely popular during WWI).

[fuzzysparrow]

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi is a well-known name in the Western world. He was the topic of numerous paintings between the 14th and 17th centuries, although his popularity has since dwindled. Most people only know Saint Francis’ name or regard him as a saint that liked animals. After looking at Saint Francis’ life in detail, it is clear he was much more than an animal enthusiast. Giovanni di Pietro…

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Vatican unveiled its annual Nativity scene earlier this evening, paying special tribute to the origins of the beloved tradition on its 800th anniversary.

The scene in St. Peter’s Square depicts not only Mary and Joseph standing beside the manger, but also St. Francis of Assisi, who organized the first Nativity scene in a cave in the Italian village of Greccio on Christmas Eve in 1223.

Cardinal Fernando Végez Alzaga, the president of the Governate of the Vatican City State, presided over the December 9 inauguration ceremony.

More than a thousand people gathered in the square for the event, which included moments of catechesis, an explanation of how the scene was put together and the signing of seasonal hymns.

The Vatican’s Greccio-inspired Nativity scene does not include live animals and people, as St. Francis’ original did, but it does feature life-size terracotta figures, crafted by renowned Neapolitan sculptor Antonio Cantone.

At the center of the scene is the now-empty manger, where a figure of the Newborn Savior will be placed on Christmas Eve.

On one side of manger, a statue of Mary kneels, flanked by a rendition of St. Joseph, while on the other side, a statue of St. Francis of Assisi stands in a pose of wonder.

In addition to the figures of Mary, Joseph, St. Francis, and the traditional ox and donkey, the 13th-century mayor of Greccio who helped organize the first Nativity scene, Giovanni Velita, is featured in statue form, along with his wife, Alticama.

Three Franciscan friars, whom St. Francis had tasked with setting up the first Nativity scene as a place where local faithful could come and contemplate the poverty of the Incarnate Lord, are also depicted.

The backdrop of the scene is a replica of the fresco that decorates the Chapel of the Nativity in Greccio, which is built into the grotto where St. Francis set up the first Nativity scene.

On one half of the fresco, the saint is shown kneeling in adoration of the Christ Child; on the other side, Mary is depicted feeding the Newborn Savior, while the figures of Joseph, the ox and the donkey look on.

Underneath the fresco, a Franciscan friar is depicted celebrating Mass in the grotto.

The friar elevates the Body of Christ directly behind the manger.

In another fitting tribute to the Nativity scene’s origins, this year’s Vatican display was provided by the Diocese of Rieti, which is where Greccio is located.

The Vatican’s Christmas tree was also lit at the December 9 ceremony.

The tree, an 80-foot-tall fir, had been donated by the Italian community of Macra, located in the northwest of Italy.

The tree was adorned with edelweiss flowers that are native to the Alpine region.

Upon lighting, it glowed with ever-changing patterns of green, blue and red.

After the tree’s use in St. Peter’s Square, its wood will be used to make toys for children in need.

Earlier in the day, Pope Francis spoke to delegations of the two communities that had donated the Nativity scene and the Christmas tree.

The Pope said that meditating in front of any Nativity scene should “awaken in us the nostalgia for silence and prayer, in our often so-hectic daily life.”

The Pope also said that the Vatican Nativity scene’s connection to Greccio should in turn prompt people to think and pray for the inhabitants of the Holy Land amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, especially children and their parents affected by the conflict.

“These are the ones who pay the real price of war,” Pope Francis said.

Both the Nativity scene and the tree will remain in St. Peter’s Square until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on 7 January 2024.

Source: National Catholic Register

Highlights: Inauguration of the Nativity scene and lighting of the Christmas tree on 9 December 2023

10 December 2023

[cronicasdelholoceno]

Saint Damian’s Monastery: Saint Claire’s garden. Assissi (Italy).

July 2024.

[spearwa]

I wonder if I should try watching the 1961 St Francis movie

[cgclarkphoto]

St. Francis and Christmas roses -  cg photography

[thatscarletflycatcher]

I think this song is a classic at this point, in several languages, but my Franciscan upbringing forces me to remind people that it is likely not older than 1912 and definitely not composed by St Francis. But of three other famous St. Francis' writings we preserved the original manuscripts: the Blessing to Br. Leo, the Praises of God the Highest, and the Canticle of the Creatures.

Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

[nouveau-riche-princess]

Pope Francis says "DL guys will never get a clocky bad bitch" at Easter Sunday mass in St. Peter's Square

Rallying from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems, Pope Francis led some 30,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday and made a strong appeal for DL guys to wake up and stop DMing penis images on social media app Grindr.

Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St. Peter's Square and then delivered a heartfelt prayer for the immortal souls of DL guys in this global tgirl crisis. In between, he made several loops around the piazza in his popemobile, greeting well-wishers.

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Therese of Lisieux

Doctor of the Church

1873-1897

Feast Day: October 1 (New), October 3 (Trad)

Patronage: Missions

St. Therese of Lisieux was a French Discalced Carmelite nun, popularly known as The Little Flower. She was a highly influential model of sanctity for others because of the "simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life." She entered Carmel at the early age of 15 and died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. Together with St. Francis of Assisi she is one of the most popular saints in the history of the Church. Pope Pius X called her "the greatest saint of modern times."

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

[rabbitcruiser]

Summer Afternoon

What do you think about my pic?

[qsycomplainsalot]

Giving constructive criticism to debutant artists is like tending to a young plant, where you gotta be careful with everything you do because it'll die extremely easily with a single mistake and if that happens you'll never know what beautiful flowers or horny fruits it would have born. Giving criticism to AI fartists is the same, but the plant is fucking evil and keeps making fun of your job all the while being plastic somehow, so decades of restraint just explode like the St Francis dam disaster and you pull the fucking garden shear on that dumb bitch.