Feast of St Francis of Assisi

Feast of St Francis of Assisi

Day Oct 4

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -St. Francis

Italian deacon who brought renewal to the Church through his decision to follow Jesus' words as literally as possible. Born in Assisi in 1181, St. Francis grew up in a wealthy family, yet chose to abandon a life of comfort for one of simplicity and devotion.

His transformation led him to establish the Franciscan Order, a vocation that focuses on aiding the poor. His reverence for nature inspired Pope John Paul II to name him the patron saint of ecology in 1979.

Through his imitation of Christ, Francis also shared in the Lord's sufferings. He miraculously received Christ's wounds, the stigmata, in his own flesh during September of 1224. His health collapsed over the next two years, a “living sacrifice” made during two decades of missionary preaching and penance.

Parishes often invite families to bring their pets — dogs, cats, birds, and even reptiles — for a special blessing in honor of St. Francis’s love for all living beings.

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