Regula Primitiva

Saint Francis in 1209 composed a simple rule for his followers ("friars"), (the Regula primitiva or “Primitive Rule”) which came from verses in the Bible. The rule was “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.”

Sounds like a good rule to me.

St. Francis Statue 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Entrance St. Francis

Entry Door 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Cross and Crucifix

It might just be me, but I almost titled this "Breath Taking".

Cross and Crucifix 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Olea Sancta

Holy Oil 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Angel and Censer

You can't help but marvel and find these works or art in stained glass beautiful.

Stained Glass Window 
St. Francis Catholic Church

Regina virginum, ora pro nobis

Queen of Confessors, pray for us. 

Stained Glass Window 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Saint Joseph

Oh, Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

St. Joseph Statue 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Guardian Angel

On my recent visit to St. Francis Catholic Church, I found several of these wonderful placards.

Philippians 2:10

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

This is another one of those jewels that I found on my way out.  I just love this type of simplistic art. 

Cross - St. Francis Catholic Church

A Terrible Time for Jesus

I came across this wonderful illustrated children's story titled  A Terrible Time For Jesus by the Bible for Children. This is the story of Jesus' triumph in the desert. However, unfortunately for most of us Christian's it is more like "Not now Jesus this isn't a good time. Could you just look the other way." -- What time does Jesus have in your life?

Sacred Heart of Jesus Clock 

St. Francis Catholic Church

Pincers

The pincers were the pliers-like tool used to remove the nails when Jesus was taken down from the cross.

Stained Glass Window

St. Francis Catholic Church

Miami County News

Found this neat article on the Cross Tipped Churches. A Visit to The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches. The article has a lot of good info and some nice pictures. The above pic is one of my own taken at St. Francis Catholic Church.

Hanging Crucifixes

I love the contrast of the crucifixes with the grain and texture of the door and the slight color that the beads add. I just love it when I find these pics.

 Rosaries -- St. Francis Catholic Church

Spare Change?

Blessed are the hungry for they shall be fed. 

Food Drive Bucket 

St. Francis Catholic Church

John 6:47

This just jumped up and grabbed me. I knew there was a great picture here. I just had to take a few shots to find it. It was worth the extra effort. The bronzes and wonderful window light are what really make this one special.

Baptismal Font 

St. Francis Catholic Church

The Beloved Disciple

One of the biggest mysteries in biblical scholarship concerns the identity of "the disciple whom Jesus loved." According to the Gospel of John, this was the disciple who leaned on Jesus during the Last Supper, and the only male disciple present at the crucifixion.

Click on this link to read some interesting arguments on the matter: The Beloved Disciple (Gospel Mysteries)

Altar Relief The Last Supper

St. Francis Catholic Church

St. Francis Mercer Ohio

Saint Francis is located in Mercer Ohio and is one of The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches. I have been to this church a few times but had yet to get a decent picture of the church. I manged to fit in a quick stop as I made my way back home from taking pictures at Pyramid Hill Park in Hamilton Ohio.

The church is named after St. Francis who was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, aged 44.



The historical marker gives a brief history of the church. Left click the picture for a larger view to read the sign.

St. Francis is featured in one of the two main stained glass windows. Here is a picture of the window along with the Prayer of St. Francis.

Prayer of Saint 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.

St. Francis

One of the surprising features of this church are its large stained glass murals. This is just one of several you will find on your visit here.

These pictures were taken early in my exploration of the byway. At this point in time I was still trying to get by without using a tripod. In fact it was these pictures that made me start lugging it around and using it. Case in point this altar picture was taken at ISO 1600 to get the shutter speed fast enough so I could shoot hand-held.

The image quality on my camera at ISO 800 is barely acceptable....1600 just was not going to cut it quality wise. This picture looks fine for the web, but trying blowing it up and you get grain and loss of detail. Live and Learn.

St. Francis Memorial Crucifix

I found this church while detouring off of 119 on my way to St. Henry. It's not on the byway map but definitely worth a look. Take 127 South off of 119 then West on Cranberry Rd, just out side of St. Henry. This church like so many other rural churches is adjoined by a cemetery. I just love shooting these Calvary Memorials.

Taking pictures of The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches has been and still is a learning experience for me. So I don't always leave with what I came for. I am sad to say I did not get a decent outside picture of the building.

Update 2012 - I recently revisited the church and sadly it is no longer their. Not sure why it was removed.

Memorial Crucifix

Saint Francis Catholic Church

Cranberry Prairie, Ohio