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



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