San Damiano Cross
As you step into the courtyard at The Franciscan School, perhaps gathering for Morning Prayer, you’ll notice the San Damiano Cross featured in the center. Installed in November 2025, this new feature provides a pivotal focal point for students, faculty, and parents each morning as we gather as a school family. And it is truly stunning.
The San Damiano Cross holds a special place in Franciscan history. Dating to around 1100, the iconic cross depicts Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection, surrounded by figures who witnessed the Crucifixion. Before this cross, in the small church of San Damiano near Assisi, St. Francis prayed and heard Christ call him to “rebuild my church.” Today, although the cross’s artist is unknown, it remains a powerful Franciscan symbol of faith, renewal, and a life centered on the power of Christ.