Celebrating St. Francis of Assisi

On Sunday, October 4, during our worship services, we will observe the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. You might wonder: where did this tradition of blessing our pets come from?

Francis was born in 1182 in Assisi, Italy, the son of a prosperous merchant.  In his youth, he enjoyed a lively social life and pursued military ambitions.  But over time, Francis was deeply moved by encounters with people who were poor and sick.

One day, while praying in a dilapidated church, Francis heard a call: “Francis, rebuild my Church which you see falling down.” Taking those words quite literally, he began rebuilding the church with his own hands, begging for supplies and renouncing his material wealth.

Eventually, Francis came to understand that the call was about more than rebuilding a single church—it was a call to help renew the Church itself.  Others soon joined him, many from the wealthy families of Assisi, and a community of brothers was formed.  They became known as the Franciscan friars.

Francis is also remembered for his extraordinary love and connection with the natural world.  One famous story tells of Francis encountering a flock of birds. Rather than flying away, the birds remained and listened as he preached.  From there, stories of Francis’s communion with animals and all of creation began to abound: a wolf stopped terrorizing a village, a fish was returned safely to the sea, a rabbit was freed from a trap, and swallows fell silent at the sound of Francis’s voice.

Whether every story is historically true or has grown through centuries of tradition, they all point to something central to Francis’s life: a deep reverence for God’s creation and a recognition that all creatures are part of God’s beloved world.

And so, in the spirit of St. Francis, we continue the tradition of blessing our beloved animal companions each year.  They remind us of the beauty, wonder, and joy of God’s creation.

I hope you and your pets will join us!

And may this prayer, traditionally associated with St. Francis, guide you this week and beyond:

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me a channel of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;

Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord;

And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace.

Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope;

Where there is darkness, only light;

And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Amen.