Jubilee Year of St. Francis brings rare relic, historic art to San Francisco

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco is hosting an exhibit featuring a first-class relic of St. Francis of Assisi and various historic artworks. The exhibition, which runs from Oct. 16 to Nov. 28, celebrates the Jubilee Year of St. Francis and the 250th anniversary of Mission Dolores.

The exhibit includes a relic of the blood of St. Francis taken from his side wound. Franciscan friars in La Verna, Italy, have guarded this relic for 800 years. Visitors can also view an illuminated manuscript of the Canticle of the Creatures commissioned by the Benedict XVI Institute, along with models of the 21 historic California missions.

Artworks on display include Renaissance devotional paintings by Dono Doni, a painting of St. Francis by Cenni di Peppo, and a 17th-century painting titled St. Francis Watched Over by the Angels. The Knights of St. Francis of Assisi, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the national Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Benedict XVI Institute are organizing the event.