This image of St. Francis Caracciolo, is considered perhaps the oldest image of our founder. The original painting is presently kept in the Vatican archives and was first displayed to the public in the year 1629 in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Naples in honor of Fr. Francis Caracciolo.
This image has a great historic and iconographic importance. It reveals his vocation and spirituality. On the left we can see the Risen Lord, which was from the beginning the emblem of the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor. Then we can see the crucifix, the sign of his devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. In the open book in front of him are the words of the four vows: chastity, poverty, obedience and of non seeking ecclesiastical honor. At the center of the picture is the Holy Eucharist with the words “Zelus domus tuae comedit me” (The zeal of your hose consumes me Ps. 69), a clear expression of St. Francis’ profound devotion for the Holy Eucharist.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS HISTORY OF ST.FRANCIS C.
You’re welcome Joan. God bless you..
I am just amazed having found that there is a Saint named Francis Caracciolo. My mother’s name is Francisca Caraccioli and her great grandfather was an immigrant from Italy that came to America around 1860s