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St. Francis Day

St. Francis of Assisi day - Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment

St. Francis of Assisi was a Roman Catholic patron saint of animals and ecology who took the gospel literally by following the sayings and path of Jesus. He was the founder of Order of Friars commonly known as Franciscans. The Catholic Church has a custom of holding ceremonies honoring animals around his feast day on 4th October.

About Francis of Assisi

The Saint Francis of Assisi born in 1181/82 lived only for 44 years. He was a poor little man who inspired the Roman Church by taking the gospel literally. He actually followed the sayings of Jesus without any limit or thinking about his self importance. Francis was born as one of the seven sons of a wealthy merchant who aspired for nothing else than drinking and partying out with friends during his youth. But his destiny took him towards god. Before this he planned to become a French poet. A serious illness in his life changed him completely. He renounced sin and began to live in poverty with no stored material things. Later he found the order of the Dominican Friars whose symbol was Tau cross.

While administering the gospel to the leper the Tau Cross became popular for the protection against plague and several other diseases. The Tau cross looks like a Greek T which had a crest that depicted his pledge to serve god and mankind. During the last two years of his life when he was almost became blind and ill, he received the stigmata which is the real and painful wounds 0f Christ in hands, feet and side. He desired to be a missionary in Syria or Africa but could not fulfill his dream due to his health and shipwreck. He even tried to convert the sultan of Egypt during the fifth crusade. The loyalty and devotion shown by him towards the church when many reforms tended to break the unity of church was of the highest degree.

Last Days of Saint Francis

His life oscillated between prayer and active preaching of good news. On his deathbed he recited the words, "Be praised, O lord for our sister Death." He even sang Psalm 141 and in the final minutes of death asked his superior to remove his clothes and make him lye naked on the earth in imitation of his dear lord. He took his last breathe on 3rd October, 1226 in Assisi in Italy. The feast day of Saint Francis' is observed on the 4th October and in addition to it a secondary feast is observed among the Franciscans and Roman Catholics to honor the stigmata received by St. Francis.