The Temple of San Francisco or Church of San Francisco is a religious building
of Catholic worship under the patronage of Saint Francis (of Assisi) in the
city of Cajamarca, in the department of Cajamarca, located in Peru.
It is included within the complex formed by the Convent of San Francisco,
located southeast of the Plaza Mayor. The construction of the temple of San
Francisco began in 1699 and was designed by the architect Matías Pérez
Palomino and its construction lasted until the 20th century, finishing the
construction of its two front towers in 1958.
|
Facade of the Church of San Francisco seen from the Plaza de Armas
The facade, finely carved in the Peruvian Baroque style of the 18th
century, has three entrance doors to the corresponding interior naves.
-
The central facade consists of three bodies, separated by cornices
supported by four twisting Solomonic columns overloaded with foliage,
flowers and decorative fruit that ascend to the sides of the central
opening, leaving niches between the columns occupied by statues of
saints of the order.
-
The last and highest body is crowned by the effigy of Saint Anthony of
Padua, under whose patronage the temple was erected.
|
|
Saint Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio
The Wolf of Gubbio was a wolf who, according to the Little Flowers of
St. Francis,[1] terrorized the Umbrian city of Gubbio until he was tamed
by Francis of Assisi acting on behalf of God.
-
The story is one of many in Christian narrative that depicts saints
exerting influence over animals and nature, a motif common to
hagiography.
-
See more at
Wolf of Gubbio - Wikipedia.
|
|
Interior of the church
It has a Latin cross plan, 73 m (239 ft) long by 30 m (98 ft) wide. The
central nave is notable, 10 m (33 ft) wide, with balanced proportions
and luminosity.
-
On both sides of the choir of the presbytery, there is a high and
continuous cornice and, then, a carved frieze with 56 busts - 28 on
each side - of saints, kings and protectors of the Seraphic Order.
-
Above the cornice in the high spaces, there are also high reliefs
representing the birth, the adoration of the three wise men, the
flight to Egypt, Jesus among the doctors, the flagellation, the
crowning of thorns, the ecce-homo.
|
|
Altar of Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fátima (Portuguese: Nossa Senhora de Fátima; formally
known as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fátima) is a Catholic title of
Mary, mother of Jesus, based on the Marian apparitions reported in 1917
by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria in Fátima, Portugal.
-
The published memoirs of Sister Lúcia in the 1930s revealed two
secrets that she claimed came from the Virgin Mary, while the third
secret was to be revealed by the Catholic Church in 1960.
-
The controversial events at Fátima, including the Miracle of the Sun,
gained fame due partly to elements of the secrets, prophecy and
eschatological revelations allegedly related to the Second World War
and possibly more global wars in the future, particularly the Virgin's
request for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary.
-
See more at
Our Lady of Fátima - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of Saint Anthony
Anthony of Padua, OFM, (Portuguese: António/Antônio de Pádua;
Italian: Antonio di/da Padova) or Anthony of Lisbon (Portuguese:
António/Antônio de Lisboa; Italian: Antonio da/di Lisbona;
born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a
Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor.
-
Anthony was born and raised by a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal,
and died in Padua, Italy.
-
Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert
knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and
the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church
history, being canonized less than a year after his death.
-
He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII on 16
January 1946.
-
See more at
Anthony of Padua - Wikipedia.
|
|
Responsory of Saint Anthony of Padua
If you seek miracles, look
Death and error banished,
Misery and demons fled,
Lepers and sick people healed.
The sea calms its anger
Imprisoners redeemed,
Limbs and goods lost
Young and old people recover.
The danger withdraws,
The poor are remedied;
Let those who were rescued tell it.
Let the Paduans say it.
The sea calms its anger, etc.
Glory to the Father, glory to the Son,
Glory to the Holy Spirit.
The sea calms its anger, etc.
Pray to Christ for us,
Divine and holy Anthony
So that we may be worthy
Of his promises. Amen.
Thank you for the favors received.
|
|
Altar of the Virgin of Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Virgin of Carmel is a Roman Catholic title
of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated as patroness of the Carmelite
Order.
-
In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, there has been
particular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who has been adopted
as a patron saint of several places, as she has been in other
Catholic-majority countries.
-
In addition, Carmen and María del Carmen have been popular given names
for girls in Spanish-speaking countries.
-
An annual festival, known as Mamacha Carmen, is held in the
highland Paucartambo District, Peru, featuring a procession with the
Virgin and traditional dancers.
-
See more at
Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of the Ecce homo
Ecce homo ("behold the man") are the Latin words used by Pontius
Pilate in the Vulgate translation of the Gospel of John, when he
presents a scourged Jesus, bound and crowned with thorns, to a hostile
crowd shortly before His crucifixion (John 19:5).
-
The motif of the lone figure of a suffering Christ who seems to be
staring directly at the observer, enabling him/her to personally
identify with the events of the Passion, arose in the late Middle
Ages.
-
At the same time similar motifs of the Man of Sorrow and Christ at
rest increased in importance.
-
The subject was used repeatedly in later so-called old master prints
(e.g. by Jacques Callot and Rembrandt), in the paintings of the
Renaissance and the Baroque, as well as in Baroque sculptures.
-
See more at
Ecce homo: Western Christianity - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of Saint Jude Thaddeus
Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New
Testament.
-
Among some Roman Catholics, Jude is venerated as the "patron saint of
hopeless causes". This practice is said to stem from the belief that
few Christians invoked him for misplaced fear of praying to Christ's
betrayer, Judas Iscariot, because of their similar names. The ignored
Jude thus supposedly became quite eager to assist anyone who sought
his help, to the point of interceding in the most dire of
circumstances.
-
See more at
Jude the Apostle - Wikipedia.
|
|
Wood carving of Ecce homo
|
|
Altar of the Holy Family
The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint
Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on for several
reasons.
-
Model of Virtuous Living: The Holy Family exemplifies virtues such as
faith, obedience, and love. Their lives demonstrate how to live
according to God's will, with Mary and Joseph both showing remarkable
faith and trust in God's plan.
-
Foundation of Family Life: The Holy Family serves as a model for
Christian families. They show the importance of family as a place
where faith is nurtured, love is freely given, and virtues are taught.
This is seen in how they lived their daily lives in Nazareth,
providing a blueprint for family life centered on God.
-
Symbol of Unity and Love: The Holy Family represents the unity and
love that should be present in all families. Their mutual support and
care for each other reflect the ideal relationships within a family,
emphasizing the importance of love, respect, and support.
-
Spiritual Significance: The Holy Family's life events, such as the
Nativity, the flight into Egypt, and their return to Nazareth, are
significant in the Christian narrative. These events highlight their
obedience to God's will and their role in the divine plan of
salvation.
-
Feast of the Holy Family: Celebrated on the Sunday following
Christmas, this feast day reminds Christians of the importance of
family and encourages them to emulate the Holy Family's virtues in
their own lives.
-
See more at
Holy Family - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most widely practised and
well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus Christ is
viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind".
-
The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart
shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, encircled by
the crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross, and bleeding.
-
Sometimes, the image is shown shining within the bosom of Christ with
his wounded hands pointing at the heart.
-
The wounds and crown of thorns allude to the manner of Christ's
passion, while the flames represent a furnace of ardent love.
-
See more at
Sacred Heart - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of the Crucifixion
Crucifixions and crucifixes have appeared in the arts and popular
culture from before the era of the pagan Roman Empire. The crucifixion
of Jesus has been depicted in a wide range of religious art since the
4th century CE, frequently including the appearance of mournful
onlookers such as the Virgin Mary, Pontius Pilate, and angels, as well
as antisemitic depictions portraying Jews as responsible for Christ's
death.
-
As a broad generalization, the earliest depictions, before about 900,
tended to show all three crosses (those of Jesus, the Good Thief and
the Bad Thief), but later medieval depictions mostly showed just Jesus
and his cross.
-
From the Renaissance either type might be shown. The number of other
figures shown depended on the size and medium of the work, but there
was a similar trend for early depictions to show a number of figures,
giving way in the High Middle Ages to just the Virgin Mary and Saint
John the Evangelist, shown standing on either side of the cross.
-
See more at
Crucifixion in the arts: Western church - Wikipedia.
|
|
Altar of Madonna and Child
The Madonna and Child or The Virgin and Child is often the name of a
work of art which shows the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus. The word
Madonna means "My Lady" in Italian. Many Catholic churches have statues
of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, These are sometimes life-sized
and are painted, with real hair and glass eyes so that they look
lifelike.
-
Symbol of Maternal Love and Devotion: The image emphasizes Mary's role
as the mother of Jesus, highlighting themes of purity, maternal love,
and devotion.
-
Theological Importance: The title "Theotokos" (Mother of God) was
affirmed in 431 CE, emphasizing Mary's role in the divine nature of
Jesus. This title underscores the belief in Jesus being both fully
divine and fully human.
-
Artistic and Cultural Influence: Throughout history, the Madonna and
Child have been central motifs in Christian art, inspiring countless
works that range from regal and divine to intimate and maternal. These
depictions serve as devotional images, helping believers connect with
the divine through visual representation.
-
Intercessory Role: In many traditions, Mary is seen as an intercessor,
someone who prays on behalf of the faithful. This role is often
depicted in art, where she is shown with Jesus, emphasizing her
closeness to Him and her role in the spiritual lives of Christians.
-
See more at
Madonna and Child - Wikipedia.
|
|
Main altar
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (c. 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as
Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic friar who
founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a
Christian life of poverty, he became a beggar and itinerant preacher.
-
One of the most venerated figures in Christianity, Francis was
canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228.
-
He is commonly portrayed wearing a brown habit with a rope tied around
his waist, featuring three knots symbolizing the three Franciscan vows
of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
-
He and his followers celebrated and even venerated poverty, which was
so central to his character that in his last written work, the
Testament, he said that absolute personal and corporate poverty was
the essential lifestyle for the members of his order.
-
See more at
Francis of Assisi - Wikipedia.
|
Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
|
Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
Attached to part of the Epistle nave, is the Chapel of Our Lady of
Sorrows, originally called "Our Lady of Solitude". It dates from 1722,
the year in which Fray Juan de la Caba Zelada began its construction.
-
Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or
Mother of Sorrows (Latin: Mater Dolorosa), and Our Lady of
Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours
are names by which Mary, mother of Jesus, is referred to in relation
to sorrows in life. As Mater Dolorosa, it is also a key subject
for Marian art in the Catholic Church.
-
Our Lady of Sorrows, depicted as "Mater Dolorosa" (Mother of
Sorrows) has been the subject of some key works of Catholic Marian
art. Mater Dolorosa is one of the three common artistic
representations of a sorrowful Virgin Mary, the other two being
Stabat Mater and the Pietà.
-
In this iconography, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is at times simply
represented in a sad and anguished mode by herself, her expression
being that of tears and sadness. In other representations the Virgin
Mary is depicted with seven swords in her heart, a reference to the
prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The
type dates from the latter part of the 15th century.
-
See more at
Our Lady of Sorrows - Wikipedia.
|
See also
Source
Location
