Los Angeles

The original name of Los Angeles, California, as a Franciscan mission, was El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula (The Village of Our Lady Queen of the Angels of the Portiuncula). The Portiuncula was the original chapel built by Saint Francis of Assisi after receiving God’s command to “rebuild my Church.”

The seal of the city of Los Angeles is encircled by a five-decade rosary. The late Walter O’Malley, owner of the L.A. Dodgers (old timer Brooklyners never forgave him for moving their team from New York), once told this writer that when he designed Dodger stadium that he surrounded the park with cypress trees in five groups of ten (one Our Father tree spaced between each) to honor our Lady’s Rosary as it was portrayed on her city’s seal.