Statue of St. Francis

(Friedsam Memorial  Library

currently in storage)

The statue of St. Francis, which is located outside of Friedsam Memorial Library is a very unique statue in design.  The statue was carved in Italy of Carrara marble by Frank A. Klien.  It stands five feet tall and was built according to the specifications of a donor who was originally unknown.  The statue is unique in its design because it shows many different aspects of the Franciscan Order and the life of St.. Francis.  The statue shows St. Francis' love for animals with two doves, one of which is resting on his shoulder, while the other stands at St. Francis' sandaled feet.  The statue also has a very unique feature-- attached to the rope around his habit is a Franciscan rosary or "crown".  This is based on a seven decade old rosary, which is unique to the Franciscan order, carved of stone with a crucifix at one end.  This is believed to be the first statue of St. Francis to include this Franciscan rosary.   

The statue rests on a pedestal cap of Santo Stefano marble, finely polished and built on a red brick foundation.  On the surface of the pedestal cap is inscribed a lamb, a wolf, and between them a sketch of the Portiuncula.  The lamb is symbolic of St. Francis love of animals and reminds us of the lamb of god.  The wolf is symbolic of the incident of the wolf of Gubbio, a story from the life of St. Francis in which a wolf was terrorizing the town of Gubbio.  St. Francis was able to charm the animal so that he became meek and loving saving the town.  The Portiuncula is the mother church of the Franciscan order; this church was given to St. Francis by the Benedictine fathers and is now located on a spot called Our Lady of Angels Chapel. 

 This Pedestal cap is on top of a red brick foundation which has a bronze plate at its base on which is depicted the Franciscan coat of arms, and a text from the prayer of St. Francis.  The coat of arms consists of two crossed arms, one clothed in Franciscan habit representing St. Francis, and the other is a bare arm which represents Jesus Christ; both hands bare the stigmata marks, reminding us that St. Francis had received the stigmata which are considered sacred marks of Christ's passion.  Since the donor of this statue wished to remain unknown, the plaque does not bear her name and instead reads "It is in giving that we receive."  In recent years it has been revealed that the donor of the statue was actually Miss Mary E. Dupaul. 

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"Statue of St. Francis Given to University." The Era 4 October 1958.