San Damiano cross is an icon dated from 1100, by unknown author and byzantine style.
This is the cross San Francesco d'Assisi (St. Francis of Assisi) was praying at the San Damiano church when having his big encounter with Jesus, and Christ replied to him "Go rebuild my church which is falling down." .
In 1257 the followers of Saint Clare of Assisi, the Poor Clares, left San Damiano and took the Cross with them to the new Basilica of Santa Chiara. They kept it for seven centuries out of the public. Since 1957, the original cross hangs in the Basilica of Saint Clare (Basilica di Santa Chiara) in Assisi and everybody can watch it. A copy of the original cross hangs in the original position inside the Church of San Damiano, Franciscans cherish this cross as the symbol of their mission from God.
The story of San Francesco and the Cross: One day, the Lord promised him he would give answers to his questions very soon. Later on, while walking the Assisi streets, he went into the church of San Damiano, knelt down to pray, and suddenly the Jesus on the cross spoke to him and said: "Go rebuild my church which is falling down." Francesco thought God wanted him to physically rebuild the collapsing church building, so he started making repairs on the church and other church buildings. But over time, Francis realized God wanted him to rebuild the entire Church around the world, through prayer, poverty, and peace.
Francesco began to preach through the narrow streets of Assisi, saying "Pace e Bene!" meaning, "Peace and goodness to you!"
San Francesco was the Nature Lover, he gave love to animals, preached to the birds, and built the first Nativity crib.
This is San Francesco's prayer before the San Damiano Cross:
Altissimo glorioso Dio,
illumina le tenebre de lo core mio
et da me fede dricta,
sperança certa
e caritade perfecta,
senno et cognoscemento, Signore,
che faça
lo tuo santo e verace commandamento
Amen
Most high, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me a correct faith,
a certain hope,
a perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord
so that I may carry out
Your holy and true command
Amen
Last week I received a wonderful gift, and unique experience. I knew the cross of San Francesco had come to my city, to the convent of the Clarisas (Poor Clares). I couldn't miss that unique opportunity and went to see the cross. A vigil was taking place. When we arrived to the church the cross was not still there, so we went out to the right side, where the convent is. Something unexpected happened, a small group of people carrying the Cross singing and playing guitar came toward us. The impression of Jesus on that cross coming to me was such, that emotion was stronger than me and I began to cry. I don't know if it was the music, I don't know if it was just Him, but something happened to me. 
We followed the group of people and entered in the church. The vigil, accompanied by songs with the guitar, was followed by the rosary prayer and the Mass. At the beginning of the ceremony, a man spoke to tell us all the details about the Cross and its meanings. This one was a copy, smaller size than the original one, that had been brought from the Poor Clare Convent in Italy and it is travelling through several convents of the "Clarisas" in Spain. The Christ of San Damiano cross is a Christ with a serene face, no crown of thorns... He's alive and glorious. His posture expresses a gesture of welcome and seems to embrace the whole universe. The icon hides a lot of meanings and symbolism. It was all quite interesting.
I was all the time I could staring at Jesus, and talking to him. This is the Christ of Love, I think. I've got in love with this icon. After the Vigil everybody had the chance to kiss Jesus. I touched my heart, and put my hand with a kiss over his lips.
