Roman Inc - Saint Francis of Assisi - Patron of Animals Catholic Action

ROMAN INC - SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI - PATRON OF ANIMALS CATHOLIC ACTION

Patron of Animals, Catholic Action (1118-1226)

Figurine comes nicely displayed in a clear fronted box with the the Story of the saint on the outside and a prayer card inside.

The only son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, Italy, Francis Bernadone enjoyed a carefree and frivolous lifestyle as a young man. A sense of adventure prompted him to become involved in the battles that were being fought between Assisi and a neighboring city.  On his way to battle one day, Francis became ill, and heard a voice asking him to serve God, rather than serve man by becoming involved in the war.  When he returned to Assisi, Francis was moved to embrace a leper on the road, and was beginning to become aware of a deeper purpose for his life.

While praying one day in the badly neglected church of San Damiano in Assisi, Frances heard a voice which told him “Repair my falling house”.   Francis took the instructions literally and sold some of his father’s expensive cloth to pay for the repairs on the church.  Francis’ father was baffled by his son’s actions, and fearing that Francis had lost his senses, he called his son before the bishops.  In a dramatic scene,  Francis removed his expensive robes and handed them over to his father to renounce his wealth and pursue a life of extreme poverty.

Believing himself unworthy to be a priest, Francis wished to live a life according to the Gospel; to preach the work of God, to care for the sick and the poor, and to live without possessions or money.  His way of life soon attracted many followers.  Francis is best known for his love of nature and animals, and for creating the first Christmas crèche in 1223.  Francis received the stigmata – the wounds of Christ, while praying on Mont Alvernia,  which he endured for the last two years of his life.

Feast Day:  October 4

Prayer to 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.  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.

Height: 8.8cm.

Material: Stone / Resin Mix