Saint Francis a santos cage doll

 

 

 

"St Francis" a Santos Cage doll

I have to decided to enter a doll making challenge from the magazine Art Doll Quarterly. The challenge is to make a "Santos Cage doll".The Santos dolls take their name from the Spanish word for Saint. Originally, Santos were created for use... as in-home altars. They were needed in small villages that did not have a priest, as well as for when it was not possible to travel to church. Often people would put their price possessions in the cage. These cage dolls have become very popular with doll collecters. Most cage dolls are decorated with angelic female figures, I decided to put a different spin on it. St Francis is know as the patron of all animals, He believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. He called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters,” and even preached to the birds and supposedly persuaded a wolf to stop attacking some locals if they agreed to feed the wolf. Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples."

 

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

attached to this doll is a prayer by Albert Schweitzer: 

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed and cruelly treated;
for all wistful creatures in captivity
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful.