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Feast Day of St. Francis
Feast Day: October 4
His
transformation from a pampered 13th-century playboy to a devout brother of the poor,
friend of animals, and impassioned celebrant of nature makes Francis one of the most
fascinating saints. Renouncing the privilege of his wealthy merchant family, he stripped
naked in the central piazza of Assisi and strode out of town toward a new life of
uncertainty, poverty, and ecstatic appreciation of all God's creations. His feast day is
observed in churches around the world with blessings for pets and farm animals brought to
the altar. Tom Cowan, author of The Way of Saints, offers this prayer for the day:
"Francis, give me the serenity to live simply and distinguish my needs from my wants.
Scripture lections:
Galatians 6:14-18; Psalm 148:7-14 or 128; Matthew 11:25-30
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow your love,
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
and where there's doubt, new faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
where there is darkness, only light,
and where there's sadness, ever joy.
O Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all men that we receive,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Blessing of Pets on St. Francis Day:
