Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - October 4

One of the most 'popular' of Christian saints is St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, creation, ecology and peace. Born in the late 12th century to a cloth merchant in the Umbrian town of Assisi in Italy, he enjoyed a privileged and adventurous life as a young adult.

After recovering from a long sickness, two significant events transformed his life. Encountering a leper on the road, Francis was moved to share his cloak and kiss the man's cheek. Then while praying in a run-down church, Francis heard Jesus speak to him from the  crucifix, asking him to rebuild his church. At first he took the words literally and went to work restoring the building. Gradually, he realized that he was being called to help the Catholic Church return to the simplicity and spirit of the Gospel. Francis financed his mission by helping himself to his father's merchandise, which did not go over well at all! In a dramatic and public encounter, Francis repaid his father and returned even the clothes off his own back, completing the transformation into a person of simplicity, humility and poverty.

At first derided for his counter-cultural lifestyle, he eventually began attracting other men who shared his commitment to serving the poor and living simply, the "Friars Minor". St. Clare of Assisi and Francis became great friends, and she established a community of women which later were known as the "Poor Clares". Francis rejected violence as ignoring the Gospel commandment to love, and had an ever-deepening awareness of the sacramentality of all creation. All people, all animals, all things were due respect as a reflection of the grace of God who is the creator of all.

Francis sought to conform his life completely to Jesus Christ, and two years before his death (at age 44) he received the 'stigmata' - the marks of Jesus' crucifixion, on his hands and feet. His holiness and influence was so apparent that he was canonized a mere two years after his death. Several favorite prayers or sayings have been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, including the one which begins "Make me an instrument of your peace..." and this beautiful song of praise for all creation:

The Canticle of the Creatures
Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord! all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. ...
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, and first my Lord, Brother Sun, who brings the day; and light you give to us through him. How beautiful is he, and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars, in the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air and fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, by which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious, and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten up the night.  How beautiful is he, how playful! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces diverse fruits, with colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whom no one among the living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds walking by your most holy will, for the second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord and give thanks to God, and serve God with great humility. -St. Francis of Assisi 

Of note:
St. Andrew the Apostle parish is served by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. This quote of St. Francis demostrates well the mission of their religious community:

In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis, there will be a blessing of animals this Saturday, October 3 in the courtyard outside the sanctuary at 10:00am. And while Francis may have tamed 'brother wolf', we ask that you bring your pets on a leash or in a cage, please!

And finally, the scripture that you will hear at the masses this weekend will NOT be the texts for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary time, but those for the Feast of St. Francis:

Sirach 50: 1-7

Psalm 16

Galatians 6: 14-18

Matthew 11: 25-30

(Background information on St. Francis of Assisi is from All Saints by Robert Ellsburg)