04/10 St FRANCIS OF ASSISI

On 4th OCTOBER the Church celebrates the life of St FRANCIS of ASSISI.

He was from a wealthy family but gave up everything to live with and for the poor. He founded the first religious group to live like this - like the poor, for the poor.

St Francis and his companions would beg for food and give the best to the poor on the streets and eat only what they wouldn't. He also acknowledged the struggles and temptations of the world, but the suffering of the poor, the widows and the orphans whom he served was more important than his desires for comfort, luxury and wealth.

The following prayer is attributed to St Francis. As we pray, let us ask St Francis to pray for us, that we would not seek happiness in material things but find true joy in Christ:

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. Amen.