Science & Culture
Franciscan Shields, Heraldry, and Coats of Arms
The Franciscan Shield depicts two crossed arms superimposed over the TAU cross. One arm represents Jesus Christ; the other represents Saint Francis of Assisi. St. Francis's arm is covered by a sleeve, representing the habit he and his followers wore. Usually, each hand is marked with either a small cross or the stigmata. In some rare cases, the hands are directly nailed to the cross.
