Today is the Feast Day

Of St. Francis of Assisi

Since my early childhood

I’ve admired his philosophy

He was a very compassionate man

Who freely shared what he had with others

And he truly believed deep in his heart and soul

That all creatures are truly our sisters and our brothers

He was also a gentle man who passionately believed in peace

He preached this message to men and even to birds on the wing

And whenever I joyously wander through Earth’s glorious Creation

I think of this sage man and my heart and my soul soon begin to sing

And although Saint Francis of Assisi lived well over 800 years ago

His teachings seem most relevant in our most callous world of today

A world hideously filled with hatred war and disrespect for earthly life

And these two compositions of his provide words to live by as we pray

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your 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;
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 again to eternal life.”

St. Francis of Assisi’s Prayer for Animals

“God, our Heavenly Father,

You created the world to serve humanity’s needs,

And to lead us to You.

But by our own fault,

We have lost the beautiful relationship we once had,

With all Your creatures.

Please help us to see that restoring our relationship with You,

We will restore it with all animals.

And give us the grace to see all animals,

As gifts from You,

And to treat these animals with respect.”

These are truly words that I believe we should all try to live by

Especially for the many victims of the recent devastating hurricanes

Both the many suffering human beings and the numerous lost animals

Truly need our compassion and the very sage wisdom of St. Francis today

See You All On My Return From the Gulf.