The Legacy of St. Francis

Today people will gather at various parks and churches for a curious but lovely religious ceremony. It is the annual Blessing of the Animals, an event which coincides with the Feast of St. Francis. Our Bridge St. congregation will hold this simple ceremony tomorrow and I will have the pleasure of bestowing a blessing on the furry friends of our Christian family.

If I had to choose a couple of patron saints the female would be Julian of Norwich and the male would be Francis of Asissi. I have written about Francis before, of how he left wealth and comfort to live a radically simple life. He was soon followed by hundreds and then thousands of young men who created a movement which was recognized by the Vatican in a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" concession to the Franciscans. Legends of Francis' care for the poor and ill quickly arose. He was said to literally embrace lepers and others who were shunned by society. He preached to birds and other creatures. He created the first Living Nativity, incorporating animals. Eventually the Poor Clares became the female companion order to the Franciscans. 

Why do I admire Francis? He was a revolutionary by example, and in a way that effected change without discarding a grounding in Christ and the church. He was a mystic, modelling the profound experiential aspects of faith. He took on a radical simplicity for his life that may be the only hope for the groaning creation of Planet Earth. He appreciated all living things as worthy of love and respect because God made them. 

Yes, some of the stories may be legends rather than fact -- did Francis really negotiate with the Wolf of Gubbio to stop terrorizing the locals? But those stories speak of a deep desire to see the world differently, through holy and Christ-washed eyes. 

Any thoughts about the Feast of St. Francis? Will your critters be blessed somewhere this weekend? Should be pay more attention to the legacy of Francis?