One summer day, I attended Mass at St. Clara Chapel, Den-en-chofu Church in Tokyo. At that time, I casually noticed the cross in front of me. I knew that it was the "San Damiano Crucifix"* that led St. Francis of Assisi to conversion, but it was the first time I had looked at it with interest. After receiving the Eucharist, I looked up at the crucifix and realised that the scene depicted was the crucifixion scene from the Gospel of John, chapter 19 (cf. John 19:25-27). 

*Editor's note: The original "San Damiano Crucifix" is in the Basilica of Saint Clare in Assisi. It was created in the 12th century by an unknown artist from the Umbria region of Italy. It measures 210 cm in height and 130 cm in width and is made of linen cloth affixed to a walnut board, on which the image of the crucifix is painted. 

After the Mass, I spoke to a woman cleaning up the altar. She said, "Yes, there is a good book if you are interested," and kindly recommended a book called The Crucifix That Spoke to St Francis (written by Michael Goonan, translated by Masatoshi Kodaira). 

I immediately ordered the book. When I opened it, to my surprise, I found a picture of a man at the top of the image of the crucifix holding something like a tube with buttons, trying to hand it to Jesus Christ, who was reaching out his hand from below (see figure ①).

The tube with buttons was undoubtedly the scroll "sealed with seven seals" (Revelation 5:1) from the Book of Revelation. When I realised this, I became absorbed in thoughts such as why the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John were depicted together on the San Damiano Crucifix, what truth it was conveying that led Francis to his conversion, and what truth Francis had received from this crucifix.

On another occasion, that woman introduced me to another book. After reading it, I became even more convinced of the effects of the Book of Revelation.

But why does Jesus, who is reaching out his hand from below, receive the scroll from the right hand of this man? Revelation reads, "He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne" (5:7).

The point is that the two fingers of the right hand depicted above their heads seem to be pointing at this man. The fingers appear to be urging us to focus on him. If these fingers belong to the one "who was seated on the throne," then this man is likely John, the writer of Revelation. In Revelation, the writer expresses his feelings, writing, "I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it" (5:4). Did the artist who painted the Crucifix of San Damiano understand John's feelings and paint this scene? 

When you enlarge the image of the cross, you can see three men with the same hairstyle, which may be a bit of a detailed observation. The first is John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, who is handing the scroll to Jesus (marked ① in the diagram). The second is the Apostle John, who is standing next to Jesus' mother on the right side of the cross (marked ② in the diagram). The third is a small figure depicted over the shoulder of a Roman centurion on the left side of the cross (marked ③ in the diagram). 

All of them have the same hairstyle known as a "widow's peak." And the names of the two of them are both "John." It is not known whether St. Francis of Assisi had a widow's peak. However, the man depicted over the shoulder of the Roman is likely the third man named John, namely Francis. Francis' real name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone, which means his name was also John. Behind this figure, you can also see what appears to be the heads of his disciples following him. 

All the people depicted here appear to be in a harmonious mood. Jesus on the cross also has a peaceful expression. However, the Roman and the man depicted over his shoulder are looking up at Jesus in the centre with serious expressions. The blood flowing from Jesus' left elbow is about to drip onto the man. 

I believe that Francis was the person prophesied in the "Crucifix of San Damiano." Francis must have received the truth that the San Damiano Crucifix wanted to convey. I prayed that we may also receive it. 

(This article is the one I contributed to Japanese Internet magazine, Catholic AI.)

Maria K. M.