450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF St. FRANCIS

[aukepalmhof]

Our stamps depict many unusual forms of water transport, but surely none are more unusual than that shown on this stamp – a Saint’s cloak. This stamp, a 25 lire value, was issued by Italy in December 1957 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the death of St.Francis of Paula, the patron saint of Italian seamen.
St. Francis was born at Pala, in Calabria, Italy in 1416 and at the age of 13 was placed in a Franciscan friary by his parents. He left the friary later and retired to a cave on the seacoast near Paula where he lived as a hermit for six years. Here he was joined by disciples, who shared his austere beliefs about poverty, humility, and bodily discomfort.
At first , the group called themselves the “Hermits of St. Francis,” but as their membership grew they adopted the name “Minims,” meaning “the least.” The Minimswere finally recognized as a distinct religious order by Pope Alexander VI. The order spread rapidly and at one time had many houses in Italy, Spain, Germany, and France.
The scene depicted on the stamp represents the miracle to cross from the Italian mainland to Sicily, requested passage on a timber-carrying vessel (show in the background on the stamp) and were refused, Francis then spread his own cloak on the waters and he and the other friar embarked the cloak. The cloack witgh its two passengers reached the Sicilian shore before the timber-vessel.
St. Farancis died n the minims monastery at Plossis-los-Tours in 1507. and was canonized by Pope Leo X in 1519.

Taken from Watercraft Philately May June 1958 page 12. by Tommy Handley
Italy 1957 25Li sg960, Scott?