St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi, a twelfth century saint, was a most extraordinary person who lived an extraordinary life. Universally known for his love of all creation, statues of Francis are found in the most unexpected places.

The spiritual search for his vocation came to him while he was praying before a crucifix in the church of San Damiano, Italy. He heard a voice saying, "Francis, build my church." Initially, Francis took the words of Christ quite literally and began to repair the church that was in ruin.

Gradually, however, he came to know the Christ who spoke to him, and began his vocation to know Christ and to live as He did. Francis took the Gospel to heart and began a movement by attracting others to live the Gospel as well.

One day the brothers asked him where his monastery was, so he took them to a mountaintop where the view was endless and Francis said to them: "The world is your monastery. Go and preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words."

Throughout his life, Francis encountered many situations which helped him explore and experience the love Christ had for him and all the world. St. Bonaventure, in his biography of Francis said of him, "Francis matured into a state of innocence by universal reconciliation with each thing through his union with Christ." Other biographers describe him as someone who could tame a wolf, admonish sheep, bless a fish and bring a flock of birds to obedience. Francis so identified with creation that he could call creatures of the human and non-human family, brothers and sisters.

It should be noted, however, that Francis' belief did not come to him overnight, but rather through a lifetime of finding "all things in Christ." It was not until the last year of his life that he was able to write his CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES.

Francis would be the first to invite us to view the animals we bring to this ritual as brothers and sisters. May this ritual remind us of Christ's call to restore all creation to its rightful place in the plan of God's creation.