St. Francis of Assisi (Feast Day October 4)

September 26, 1182 – October 3, 1226

Francis was born into a wealthy merchant family, served as a soldier, and was a prisoner of war. He left this life behind when he heard God call him to "rebuild his Church." Francis was never a priest, though he was later ordained a deacon. Francis preached about returning to God and obedience to the Church. Slowly companions came to Francis, people who wanted to follow his life of sleeping in the open, begging for garbage to eat, and loving God. He eventually founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land. His love of nature helped him see all of God's creation as part of his brotherhood. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day.

·      Which son do you think is right?

·      Are you more like the first son or the second son?

·      Why is it hard for us to admit when we are wrong?

·      In what way are pets (or animals in nature) a blessing to your family?

Pet Blessing

Take your pet to a pet blessing hosted by a local parish. If you don’t have a pet, sit down with your family and create a list of blessings, writing down everything for which you are grateful. Hang your list in a prominent spot in your home.

Puppy Chow

Honor St. Francis of Assisi with this tasty treat!

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup creamy peanut butter

¼ cup unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 cups Rice Chex or Crispix cereal

1 ½ to 2 cups powdered sugar

Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir. Put the bowl back into the microwave and heat for an additional 30 seconds or until mixture is smooth when stirred. Add the vanilla extract and stir again. Pour the cereal in a large mixing bowl. Add the chocolate peanut butter mixture and gently stir until cereal is evenly coated. Pour the coated cereal into a large Ziploc bag. Add the powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is well coated. Spread on parchment paper or waxed paper. Let it sit until cool and chocolate is set. Store the puppy chow in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. If it is warm in your kitchen, store the puppy chow in the refrigerator.

Prayer of St. Francis

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

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's in dying that we are born to eternal life

Amen.

Explore the artwork in your parish buildings and see if you can find any images of animals.

This week, make an effort to follow through on things people ask of you.

St. Francis designed the first nativity set.