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St. Francis - Our Patron Saint Last updated: 09 March 2005
Francis left a life of wealth to care for lepers in the woods near Assisi, Italy. Then one day five years later he heard a call telling him to go out into the larger world, possessing nothing but doing good everywhere. He was ordained a deacon c. 1209. Francis sought a simple way of life -- to be among the least of God's servants. Trusting wholly in God, he discarded his staff and shoes, put on a long dark garment, and set out to save souls. Today St. Francis is probably the most admired and least emulated of all the saints, which is understandable in a way. No one here wants to set out barefoot. But we are called by God to be "the light of the world" by the way we live our lives, and called, as a church here, to be a community of the Spirit which will shine out in a dark world. As with St. Francis and the animals he loved, God has given us all we need - the gifts of the time of our lives, our talents, and our treasure. All of these gifts come from God. What we do with them is the question of stewardship - how we care for the gifts we have received. In legend, St. Francis was particularly associated with animals, whose simplicity and trust in God sustained them better than did all the wealth, busyness and scheming of the people around them. He went around, it was said, accompanied by a pet wolf, surrounded by fawns, and preaching to the birds. Remembering St. Francis helps us renew our own trust in God and our connectedness with God's other creatures. We honor and bless our pets for all they do to brighten our lives and lighten our burdens:
Read more:
Francis, Clare, and other
Franciscan Stuff |
We
begin each October by remembering St. Francis. We remember him
primarily in two connections -- his ministry with the poor and his
relationship with animals. Remembering him helps us renew our
own trust in God and our connectedness with God's other creatures.