Saint Francis Lover of Animals Feast Day October 4th

 Saint Francis of Assisi Italy has always been one of My favorite Saints. He is the Patron Saint of Animals and ecology.  Saint Francis loved the animals as he believed that he too should love all creatures as the Lord does. He loved all creatures large and small and it has been said that he would preach sermons to the Birds in the trees.  He was known to say: ‘Oh birds, my brothers and sisters, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator, who clothed you in feathers and gave you wings to fly with, provided you with pure air and cares for you without any worry on your part.’…The birds showed their joy in a remarkable way. They began to stretch their necks, extend their wings, open their beaks and gaze at him attentively.
 The Feast day of Saint Francis is celebrated on October the 4th of every year. Many people will bring all types of animals to be blessed by Priests in honor of the blessings of Saint Francis. For years the Catholic church holds a very beautiful celebration blessing horses, cats, goats, birds and every kind of animal that walks the earth. Many people who have sick animals also pray for Saint Francis to bring their prayers to the Heart of Our Lord for healing.


A Little Background On Saint Francis

Saint Francis was a Roman Catholic Saint who took the word of God very serious and very literally.He was a considered a poor man but his heart was rich with and filled with the words of the Bible.Saint Francis is responsible for forming the Order of St. Francis or what is known as the Franciscans.  

One day Christ spoke to Francis and told him to go to the San Damiano chapel that was old and falling down and repair it. So St. Francis gave away all of his possessions and this he did in deed. He lived the rest of his life for Christ giving to the poor and needy. He wanted nothing more than to live his entire life for the Lord. He also believed in peace and in nature as God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Jesus. Francis was a man of prayer and a man who prayed from his heart and soul. One of the most popular prayers written to Honor Saint Francis was called the Prayer of Peace. This prayer was meant to show the love and humble life of poverty that Saint Francis lived.

 Saint Francis was a sickly young man and died on October 3rd 1226 at the early age of 44 and prior to his death he experienced stigmata. Saint Francis suffered the wounds similar to Christ on both his hands and feet. It has been said that in the last hours on earth Francis laid naked on the earth so that he could resemble the Death of Jesus and go forth to Heaven in an Honorable fashion.

Here is the famous Prayer of Peace in Honor of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon:

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope

where there is darkness, light

where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

 SAINT FRANCIS STATUE

 SAINT FRANCIS WITH DEER STATUE 

SAINT FRANCIS AT THE MANGER WREATH



Beattitudes Religious Gifts

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER AND BLESSINGS

 I wanted to share with you my favorite Guardian Angel Prayer. This prayer is a wonderful prayer to teach your children or loved ones.  Guardian angels are documented in the Bible and have been known to bring many blessings.  Angels have been known to bring messages, bring protection and also be looking down upon people guiding them or giving direction in difficult situations.

Matthew 18:10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Luke 19:10  The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Act 12:15  They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, "It is his angel."

Revelation 8:2  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

 GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER

Guardian Angel from heaven so bright, 
Watching beside me to lead me aright, 
Fold thy wings round me, and guard me with love, 
Softly sing songs to me of heaven above.
Amen.

  

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER FOR FRIENDS

Guardian Angel,
watch over those whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care
and make their way easy and their labours fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep;
sanctify their joys;
raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart,
their health if they be ill,
truth if they err,
repentance if they fail.

 Angel Of Hope Statue

Guardian angel for Protection 

Crystal Angel Protection Rosary 5 Archangels 

Praying angel statue
 

MORE BEAUTIFUL ANGEL GIFTS

SAINT PEREGRINE -SAINT KNOWN TO HELP WITH CANCER

 Saint Peregrine is a very well known Saint who has been known to help fight and cure cancer.
 Here is the famous Cancer Prayer that can be said by any one who has cancer.
 Many times those suffering from cancer feel very helpless. A rosary is a wonderful Gift that helps to give hope and faith during a serious illness such as Cancer. I believe first and foremost that God is the ultimate Healer but many Saints can aide in helping to bring our prayers and requests to the Lord God.

A Prayer to St. Peregrine for One Suffering from Cancer

Dear St. Peregrine, I need your help. I feel so uncertain of my life right now.
This serious illness makes me long for a sign of God's love.
Help me to imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer and surgery.
Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this moment of distress.

I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for the strength to bear the cross in my life.
I seek the power to proclaim God's presence in my life despite the hardship,
            anguish and fear I now experience.

O Glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of those needed
                                                        graces from our loving Father. Amen.

If you or a loved one are in need of a Saint Peregrine Rosary you can get one and a portion of the sale goes to help sick children.

Saint Peregrine Rosary Gift set-Rosary and Healing Medal for Cancer

Breast Cancer Hope Pink Ribbon Angel 

May God our Father Bless you and Heal you and all those you love.

Beattitudes Gifts and Collectibles

How to Incorporate Spirituality in your Childrens daily Life

 I am a mother of two boys and have always felt that making sure that they have a  strong belief in God was very important. I find myself often observing that many Religious Family traditions have fallen to the way side in this busy world today due to time constraints. In many house holds both parents must work in order to keep food on the table. Many times families do not attend regular church services or send their children to Sunday school to learn the importance of the Bible and God. I feel that children are very impressionable and the values and traditions that we pass on in our daily life will remain with them forever. I feel that with out the presence of God in a child's life they may go down a wrong path and have a troubled life. With out the knowledge of God there is no sense of right or wrong, Good or Evil. There is no sorrow or guilt when doing some thing wrong other than the form of punishment.
 Although we live busy lives we must remember to take time to honor God daily. He must have a place in our homes and in our Hearts.

One of the ways we can help teach children to Honor God our Father is by saying daily grace prior to meals.  Another way is to say good night prayers as these are traditions that will be passed along from one generation to another.

 In my home since my boys were young I have always had prayer candles. I keep them on hand at all time and have asked my boys as teens to please pray and light them. The presence of these candles brings a sense of hope and faith. 
 Holy Water and Holy oil is another great way to bless your children prior to saying good night prayers. You can give each of your children their own bottle for night prayers. This is a gift and practice that makes them feel safe and feel the presence of God prior to falling asleep.

 You can also bless your children or loved ones when they are sick. This teaches them that with prayer and God's help they can be healed as it says in the Bible.

 I have always surrounded my home with Religious Statues, Crucifix, and Religious prints. It is a constant reminder of the importance of God in our daily lives. Even as we are busy we will see Jesus or Mary's loving face and it is a reminder that they are always with us and how we should live our lives trying to honor them both. 
 Young children and teens need to know that when life becomes difficult or times are trying that God is the one to turn to instead of using drugs and alcohol as and escape. 
 We all need love, we all need hope and most of all we need to know that with God any thing is possible.

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"

  Philippians 4:13

Beattiudes Gifts