Happy Feast of St. Francis!

Today is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, He is one of the greatest saints, not only did the pope choose him for his name, but he has been the inspiration for many other saints. He was the son of a wealthy merchant who heard the voice of God and decided to give up all his riches and dedicate his life to the poor. 

St. Pope John Paul II said of St. Francis is that "St.Francis offers Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation."

He is the Patron Saint of Animals and pets, he teaches us to respect and treat all animals with kindness.

Saint Francis said: If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.

Here is a story is taken from Bonaventure, Major Life of Saint Francis and the birds! 

When he was near Bevagna, he came to a spot where there was a huge flock of birds of various kinds. The moment he saw them, he ran to them and greeted them as if they understood, and they all turned towards him and waited for him. Those that had perched on the bushes bent their heads, when he came near, and looked at him in an extraordinary way.

He went straight up to them and appealed to them all to hear the word of God, saying, "My brothers, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator. He clothed you with feathers and gave you wings to fly, appointing the clear air as your home, and he looks after you without any effort on your part." As he continued speaking to them like this, the birds showed their pleasure in a wonderful fashion; they stretched out their necks and flapped their wings, gazing at him with their beaks open.

In his spiritual enthusiasm, Francis walked among them, brushing them with his habit, and not one of them moved until he made the sign of the cross and gave them permission to go. Then they all flew away together with his blessing. His companions who were waiting on the road saw everything, and when the saint rejoined them, in the purity and simplicity of his heart, he began to reproach himself for his negligence in never preaching to the birds before.

“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” 
―Saint Francis of Assisi

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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;

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” 
― Francis of Assisi

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.” 
― Saint Francis of Assisi

Ta, Ta for Now!