Located in Santa Fe New Mexico is the beautiful and historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. In 1598 the Franciscan Friars came with the Spanish colonists from Mexico and in1610 Santa Fe was founded and that same year the first church was built. The church was destroyed by the Pueblo Indian revolt in 1680. The Spanish returned in 1693 but were unable to rebuild until 1714. The church was renamed to honor St. Francis the patron saint of Santa Fe. As the congregation grew the adobe church became too small so the present church was built in1886. As you enter the sanctuary there are many interesting points of interest such as the Damiano Crucifix hanging above the sanctuary area. This crucifix is an exact replica of the crucifix in Assisi, Italy, from which the Lord bent down and told St. Francis: “Francis, go and repair my house.” The alter screen was carved for the hundredth anniversary celebration of the cathedral in 1986. In the center is a statue of St. Francis that dates from the 1700’s.The screen was painted by the famous artist, Robert Lentz. Also behind the alter is the crypt where Archbishop Lamy and other archbishops and priest are buried. The baptismal font is made of Brazilian granite, the stained-glass windows were purchased in Clermont-Ferrand, France and installed in 1884 and the pipe organ was installed around 1895. In October of 2005, Pope Benedict XVI officially upgraded the church to Basilica. Basilica means a church of particular importance in Rome and abroad. |
