As a young man, Francis of Assisi was very wealthy and enjoyed the pleasures of life. Yet, he felt that God was calling him to live as Jesus did. Francis responded to God's call and began to visit the sick in hospitals and to do helpful things for the poor. He began to wear clothes like the poor, and he started to preach to people about peace and unity. "All the things God created are like our brothers and sisters," he said.
Francis had a special link with all God's creatures. He was in awe of the swallow, the cricket, and the wolf. For him, every creature was sacred. He addressed creatures as "sisters" and "brothers." They were his equals, not his subjects. He saw himself as a simple servant and caretaker of creation.
We should see ourselves as stewards with creation, not as separated from it. Francis saw himself as part of the ecosystem, not as a proud master over it.
St. Francis was a poor man who inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally, following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without self-importance.
So deep was his desire to be like his Lord, that the marks of Jesus' five wounds appeared on Francis' body and remained there all his life.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the patron of ecology in 1979. "St. Francis," he said, "invited all creation - animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon - to give honor and praise to the Lord."
St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. We celebrate his feast day on October 4th.
S Francis of Assisi Parish
318 Church Street
Naugatuck, CT 06770
203 729-4543
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