As the patron saint of the ecosystem and the animal kingdom, Saint Francis is one of the most celebrated saints in the history of Catholicisim. Also known as Francis of Assisi, he has become a global symbol for compassion and the fight against poverty. He has gained many nicknames throughout the generations, the most common of which is his nickname as “the little poor man of Assisi”, due to the fact that he gave the majority of his wealth away. However, before he became “the little poorman”, he was raised in extravagance and luxury as the son of a wealthy merchant. He left his life of luxury to follow the ways of the church and he eventually founded the Franciscans. The Universal Life Church‘s organization of interfaith ministers should have the necessary knowledge of St. Francis’s importance to the Catholic community.
On the feast day of October 4, Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated by Catholics across the world. Due to his affinity for animals, it is a common practice for the blessing of pets to be included in the celebrations. His stance on justice, pace and compassion has made him one of the most famous saints of all time; in fact, he’s often celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians alike. On October 4, Catholics gather together to express their joy that such a benevolent saint once existed.
As some from the Universal Life Church know, the legendary stigmata of Saint Francis is known by both art connoisseurs and regular people from all across the world. It is a painting by the well-known artist Giotto that dates back to the year 1295. The painting depicts Saint Francis receiving the stigmata from a Flying Christ, and it holds a signficant amount of cultural importance for the Catholic religion. It is currently being held in a French museum. To be a pastor in the Catholic church, knowledge of such artifacts is essential.
Whether one is an atheist, pagan or Catholic, Saint Francis of Assisi’s life history paints an admirable picture of a man with good character and strong values. To be a pastor in any church, especially the Catholic church, this type of knowledge is necessary for religious success. Saint Francis of Assisi will most certainly be remembered for generations as one of the most honorable Catholic saints in religious history. Regardless of one’s religion, knowledge of the saints is certainly important.