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Today, St Francis of Assisi ( 1182-1226 ), one of the most revered of the Christian saints is celebrated He was distinguished for his joyous and compassionate nature that extended to all living creatures......
Francis was the son of a wealthy merchant who disinherited Francis after his extravagant gifts to the poor that lived locally. This didn't dishearten Francis, as soon after he began to minister to the lepers that lived in and around Assisi. It was at this time he rebuilt a ruined chapel for the much suffering lepers
In 1209 he was granted papal permission to begin his own order ( Franciscan )
He travelled throughout Europe, where his compassion for nature spread. There is one legend that has St Francis preaching his sermon to sparrows at Alviano and another tells of him saving wild bees from freezing to death.
Today, some Christian schools allow their pupils to bring their pets to school.
Oakapple xx
Thank you for this Oakapple. Saint Francis is one of my heroes.
Yes, an amazing man and life. Francis became part of a wider wonderful story too, which takes in the life of St. Clare, and the lives and times of their chief disciples (as that's what I'd call them).
V
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.