October 4, 2018 was St Francis of Assisi’s feast day. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Many churches and religious communities celebrate his life,  and priests  also bless people’s pets.

I don’t have a picture of St. Francis; however, there is a water color painting I made as a teenager at my parents’ home.   For the time being, the best I can do to honor him is with picture of a statue and his prayer. I’ve had it for  a long time and say it everyday. Here it is:

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I haven’t been  to a blessing of the animals. Have you been able to attend  one at your church?