This week, on Wednesday 4 October, we celebrated the memorial to Saint Francis of Assisi in the liturgical calendar.
The son of a wealthy cloth merchant, he lived a lavish and irresponsible life. At the age of 20, he went to war but was captured and imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he experienced a vision from Christ and changed his life completely. He left all his possessions and embraced complete poverty, taking the Gospel as his rule of life.
Throughout his life, he wore ragged old clothes, begged for food and preached peace.
He is the Patron Saint against fire; for animals; Catholic Action; dying alone; the environment and needle/lace workers among many others.
Let us pray
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis' footsteps, we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Saint Francis, pray for us!
Amen
