Sainthood Runs in the Family

San Geraldo (aka Jerry) is not the first saint in his distinguished family lineage. One of his 22-greats-grandfathers was Fernando III of Spain who lived from 1199 to 1252 and was King of Castile as well as King of León. He greatly expanded the dominions of Castile into Southern Spain, annexing many of the great old cities of Andalucía, including Sevilla.

SAN FERNANDO, LOSING SOME OF HIS 83-YEAR-OLD GLAZE, AT THE PLAZA DE ESPAÑA.

Fernando III was canonized San Fernando in 1671. He's buried in the Cathedral of Sevilla in a gold, crystal, and silver casket. That area of the Cathedral is currently undergoing restoration and therefore covered in scaffolding and tarps, so a photo of his opulent tomb will have to come some other time. But, I was pleased yesterday to discover a terra cotta portrait bust of San Fernando among the famous Spaniards depicted between the arches of the Plaza de España built in 1929.

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA.
SAN FERNANDO CAN BE FOUND BETWEEN THE ARCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FOUNTAIN.

Jerry comes from a long line of royalty, but this is the only saint (other than Jerry) I am so far aware of. And, as my father used to say in the 1960s, "That and a nickel will get you on the subway."