"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is St. Francis hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where of Assisi 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 Feast Day: Oct. 4th to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning Patron Saint of that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born Animals, Merchants & to eternal life." Ecology

Francis was born in Italy in 1181 to a wealthy merchant family. As a young man, he spent a lot of time and money His joy attracted others and on parties, clothes, so he started the Friars and activities. Minor (Franciscans) who go everywhere preaching the Gospel and live very simply When he was 20, he so they can live like Jesus. wanted to be a great soldier and joined an army but was soon captured. When he was finally released he tried to Even though Francis join again but a dream was very poor, he was convinced him to return filled with joy and home and seek God's plan loved serving God. He for his life. knew God wanted him Francis spent time in to rebuild the Church prayer, wandered by telling people about through the country- Jesus. side and gave his belongings to the poor. His friends thought he He sold his father's cloth was crazy, but Francis for money to rebuild the discovered the beauty church. His father was of God's creation. angry and demanded that he pay it back. Francis While praying in an renounced his inheritance abandoned church in San and rebuilt the church Damiano, he heard Jesus through begging for asking him to rebuild His supplies. Church. Francis died on Oct. 3, 1226 in Assisi, surrounded by his Francis wanted official brother friars. His approval for his group of last words were brothers, so he went to from Psalm 142, "I cried Rome to see Pope to the Lord with my Innocent III. The Pope voice". Francis was had a dream about a canonized a saint two poor man who would years later by Pope help save the Church, so Gregory IX. A basilica was he gave Francis his built in honor of St. blessing to preach and Francis and his remains spread his group. were moved there for veneration. When a woman Two years before he died, named Clare of Assisi Francis had a vision of wanted to take similar Christ crucified. During vows, Francis helped this encounter, Francis her start the Order of received the stigmata, the Poor Ladies (Order which is having Christ's of Saint Clare).The wounds on your own sisters lived simple body. Since Francis loved lives of prayer and Jesus so much and poverty. wanted to be like Him, he was happy to share in Francis traveled to the Holy Christ's suffering. Land to share Christianity with the Muslim Sultan of Francis set up the first Egypt. Francis' humility and known Nativity scene to respect impressed the celebrate Christmas. He Sultan and they had a arranged everything in a peaceful meeting. The cave in Italy, using a live Sultan and Francis ox and donkey along with concluded their discussion a manger full of hay. He by asking each other to pray for the other. invited people to ponder the scene as he preached about Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem.

The Prayer before the Crucifix by St. Francis of Assisi Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Created by Joan Patten Lord, that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen. Pro Sanctity Movement