St Francis’ dog carrying a doughnut

probably St Francis of Assissi

Looming above Nice is the hill where the Château once stood (there are still ruins) and the Cimetière du Château (cemetery of the Château) still stands. Quite majestically truth be told. Actually, I’ll point you to a much better travel blogger than I who’ll explain this succinctly. Here it is: France Travel Series : The Nice Side of Cemeteries. There. If you actually clicked over, you’re much better informed.

But as beautiful as the cemetery on the hill was, and I’ll include a few photos below, I was somehow transfixed by the statue of what I can only assume must be Francis of Assissi that you can see above. I’ve seen this saint depicted with birds on his shoulder and even sprightly animals that you might see in the cartoon film Bambi scurrying along at his feet, but I’ve never seen him with a dog.

What is that? Or I should say, ‘Why is that?’

I’m ok with all those, but this dog at his side thing just made St Francis infinitely more interesting to me. You can see that, can’t you?

Even more important: What is that he’s holding in his mouth? St Francis‘ canine companion appears to be carrying a doughnut. Well, there’s nothing wrong with this development. That doughnut can’t be for the dog. For one thing if St Francis really loves dogs as much as he says he does, he knows the refined sugar in that doughnut is going to cause his dog nothing but trouble.

So the next logical conclusion is that the dog is carrying the doughnut for good old St Francis. How about that? Pretty impressive, eh? Not too shabby.

I didn’t have strong opinions one way or another, but if this dog loves him enough to carry that doughnut without eating it himself, St Francis just went up mightily in my estimation.

And now for several of the photos of the cemetery that I promised:

cemetery statue

the view pointing north
Greek-influenced statue in the Jewish section of the cemetery
a view of Old Nice from above

8 comments

    1. A whole grain roll? The story’s not nearly as entertaining if it’s a whole grain roll. Not that it’s the most compelling narrative or anything.

      Strikes and gutters, huh?

  1. No, I think it’s a medi-pack. When St Francis is injured in a firefight with the EVIL ENEMY, he can rely on his trusty dog companion to give him a medi-pack so he can instantly heal and continue the fight. Convenient and practical.

    1. A medi-pack? Wait, what?

      That’s even more dull. What’s wrong with you people?

      It’s a doughnut. Pure and simple. It’s almost something you might’ve seen in the early seasons of the Simpsons. Enough with your healthy or safety-conscious alternatives.

      Doughnut.

  2. Ah, but is it a Krispy Kreme donut, that’s the real question. Those things are heavenly, which seems appropriate for a Saint.
    We visited Forest Lawn Cemetary in Glendale, CA a couple years back. On vacation. And we didn’t know anyone (personally know anyone) who’s buried there. In one word: Spectacular. The statues were plentiful and amazing. Those dead people sure know how to live.

  3. I’ve seen him with Wolves and Birds but this looks like the dog is carrying his pouch of money or food. Obviously it could be a doughnut or even an English Cornish pasty, but I reckon, it was his pouch.

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