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Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most outstanding and beloved of all the saints. He was an exceptional person who had a remarkable life. He was born rich, fought in the Crusades, jailed for a year, had mystical visions, and was on the forefront of helping the poor and the sick . He is the Patron Saint of Animals and the Patron Saint of Ecology ( the Environment).

Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181 to a family of moneyed textile merchants. In 1204 he suffered a serious sickness and it was during this period that his conversion to a more spiritual life began to evolve. He had a number of mystical visions and began helping the poor and the sick.  Francis attracted a small-scale band of followers and  he founded the Franciscan Order in 1209.

In many ways Saint Francis was ahead of his time, perhaps a thousand years ahead! He understood  the inter-connectiveness of all life on Earth, that each creature and plant and human is connected and is important . It is what has come to be known as the Web of Life. This  profound   idea grew out of St. Francis’s love for God .  Because God deserves to be respected and honored, he belived  that we should love and respect all that He created. He saw God in all of creation.

Saint Francis had a specific love for animals and nature . It is believed that he could speak to animals and he had several well known encounters with them. One  concerned  a wolf in the town of Gubbio. The wolf was terrifying the town and killing sheep and other animals . The townspeople asked Saint Francis for help . He tracked the wolf and discovered him in the hills near the town. He commanded it to stop killing and not to hurt anyone. The wolf lay down at St. Francis’s feet and listened. To the amazement of the people, St. Francis returned to Gubbio with the wolf at his side and he then fed the creature . He then promised the people of Gubbio that if they would continue to feed the wolf it would no longer cause any harm .  It ws due to hunger that the wolf was killing . The wolf and the townspeople became friends. By taming the wolf of Gubbio , St. Francis taught the people not to be afraid and to love and respect the wolf.

 On another occasion  Saint Francis and his followers were traveling when the trees surrounding them were abruptly filled with birds. St. Francis took the opportunity to actually preach to the birds. They stayed and listened, not one flew away .

Saint Francis’s love of animals is reflected and seen today in the Animal Blessings that are held throughout much of the Earth. Though Animal Blessings pre-date St. Francis, most modern day Animal Blessing celebrations are associated with him and are usually held on or around his feast day in early October.

 The Olvera Street Blessing in Los Angeles is probably the oldest blessing of the animals celebrations in the USA . This actually takes place on the original site of Los Angeles and dates back to about 1781. 

The largest and certainly one of the most spectacular animal blessings  occurs   at  New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine  . Held each year on the first Sunday of October, it   draws several thousand people and their dogs, cats and various pets, many whom come from across North America . The highlight of this festivity is the incredible  Procession of Animals which often includes elephants, camels, llamas, snakes, horses, farm animals and turtles among many others.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine began this event in 1985, on the Feast of Saint Francis, to attract attention to the dilemma of the Earth’s environment and to honour  the diverseness of life on our planet .

 St. Francis’s theology  has great  application to twenty first century . He  recognised that we are all interdependent and mutually accountable for all life on this planet . He spoke out against the destruction of the planet. Because of this he was chosen as the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment (Ecology), not just by the Church, but by the scientific community as well . It is through people like Saint Francis that we will find alternative ways to live in the 21st century.