Francis of Assisi Patron Saint of Birds by the Cypress Tree
by Kelly Hazel
Title
Francis of Assisi Patron Saint of Birds by the Cypress Tree
Artist
Kelly Hazel
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This photograph by Kelly Hazel depicts a statue of Fracis of Assisi, the patron Saint of Birds, by an ancient Cypress Tree in Winter Haven, Florida. The tree stands in a garden that was once part of Cypress Gardens, but is now a part of Legoland Florida. Cypress Gardens was originally a botanical garden and theme park that operated just outside Winter Haven from 1936 to 2009.
In 2010 Merlin Entertainments purchased the park, and in October of 2011, Cypress Gardens was opened as Legoland Florida.
Legoland Florida is the 2nd largest Legoland theme park, and the largest Legoland theme park in the US. The Legoland park re-themed many of the original rides and coasters to fit the lego theme, and added several new rides. They preserved the original botanical gardens, and though it is part of the Legoland park, it stands as it originally did.
Cypress Gardens was originally famous for daring water ski and boat shows. Legoland continues to put on water shows, some themed after the original park, and others themed to fit the Lego name.
Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: San Francesco d'Assisi; born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but nicknamed Francesco ("the Frenchman") by his father; 1181/1182 – October 3, 1226)[1][3] was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis for men and women not able to live the lives of itinerant preachers, followed by the early members of the Order of Friars Minor, or the monastic lives of the Poor Clares.[1] Though he was never ordained to the Catholic priesthood, Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.[1]
Francis' father was Pietro di Bernardone, a prosperous silk merchant. Francis lived the high-spirited life typical of a wealthy young man, even fighting as a soldier for Assisi.[4] While going off to war in 1204, Francis had a vision that directed him back to Assisi, where he lost his taste for his worldly life.[4] On a pilgrimage to Rome, he joined the poor in begging at St. Peter's Basilica.[4] The experience moved him to live in poverty.[4] Francis returned home, began preaching on the streets, and soon gathered followers. His Order was authorized by Pope Innocent III in 1210. He then founded the Order of Poor Clares, which became an enclosed religious order for women, as well as the Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance (commonly called the Third Order).
In 1219, he went to Egypt in an attempt to convert the Sultan to put an end to the conflict of the Crusades.[5] By this point, the Franciscan Order had grown to such an extent that its primitive organizational structure was no longer sufficient. He returned to Italy to organize the Order. Once his community was authorized by the Pope, he withdrew increasingly from external affairs. In 1223, Francis arranged for the first Christmas nativity scene.[4] In 1224, he received the stigmata,[4] making him the first recorded person to bear the wounds of Christ's Passion.[6] He died during the evening hours of October 3, 1226, while listening to a reading he had requested of Psalm 142(141).
On July 16, 1228, he was proclaimed a saint by Pope Gregory IX. He is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment, and is one of the two patron saints of Italy (with Catherine of Siena). It is customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4.[7] He is also known for his love of the Eucharist,[8] his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and for the creation of the Christmas crèche or Nativity Scene.[9]
My family had the opportunity to visit Legoland Florida in January of 2013 and we had a wonderful time! Among rides are several small roller coasters, a two story Lego themed Carousel, and many others. The park is designed for children about 2 up through age 12. My son was 9 at the time, and is rather small for his age, so it was wonderful that he could ride everything in the park! The botanical garden is breathtaking, even in mid winter.
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November 3rd, 2014
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