St. Francis of Assisi – (Italian: San Francesco d’Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but nicknamed Francesco (“the Frenchman”) by his father, 1181/1182 – October 3, 1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis. Though he was never ordained to the Catholic priesthood, Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.

As a young man, St. Francis had considered joining the crusades, but was visited by Jesus, and thus decided to serve Christ instead serving in the army. He renounced all of his worldly wealth and while begging for his own food, served the poor. He was well known for his loving care of animals and his belief in kindness, peace and purity.*

St. Francis of Assisi can help fill your heart with gratitude and love and to feel the presence of the Creator in everything. He can be called upon to bring protection to the home, and to heal and calm your pets. If you ever have a sick or ailing animal, you can ask St. Francis of Assisi to be with that animal, to soothe and calm and heal. If it is the pet’s time to pass, you can ask St. Francis to be there and guide the animal to the other side. If a pet is lost, call upon St. Francis to help guide the animal home safely.

St. Francis wants us to feel peaceful and to help others. Call upon him to help guide you to service work and to find and follow your bliss while being of value to the world. He has a very grounded and earthy presence. You will know he is with you by the sense of peace that fills your heart whenever he is near.

The Prayer of Saint Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And 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 to eternal life.

*Historical information source: Wikipedia.org