(Stock Image Canva)
By Patricia Schiissler
The feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, much less commonly known by his given name Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, this year is Sunday, October 4th 2026. It will mark the 800th anniversary of his passing in 1226.
Many people do pilgrimages and reflect spiritually about him in the church. In Italy, the date is now starting to be officially recognized as a national public holiday. St. Francis is best known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. His feast is regularly celebrated around the world as ‘World Animal Day’ for the blessing of animals.
St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church. He lived in Italy during the 13th century. My initial thoughts about this saint come from his love for animals and nature. He is also known for his generosity to the poor and his help for the lepers. It could be said that he is renowned for care, love and compassion, plus many other wonderful attributes.
A passage from the book of Numbers, Chapter 22, comes to mind. Balaam, a pagan prophet, rides his donkey to curse the Israelites after the time of their release from slavery in Egypt. The donkey sees an angel of the Lord that others don’t. It is blocking the path, and so the donkey moves aside. Balaam is frustrated and beats the animal. God miraculously has the donkey speak, and it questions why it is being beaten. Balaam’s eyes are opened after the donkey speaks, and he sees the angel standing in his path. Balaam says, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing on the road to oppose me…”
St. Francis may have reflected a completely different scenario than Balaam. Francis looked upon the beauty of all nature as a wondrous creation of God. He was known for even preaching the Word of God to the animals in the forest. He would have never beaten a donkey. Francis, who, near the end of his life, wrote the Canticle of the Sun, telling about his respect and love for nature and how he believed it to be closely connected to God, would likely have done the opposite, seeing God at work instantly.
There is much more to be said about St. Francis than his love for animals and nature. He lived in extreme poverty, choosing to pray, meditate and even sleep outdoors. Yet, he was born into a wealthy family and was spoiled with riches to fulfill any earthly desires. While a soldier in the Italian army, he was captured and imprisoned for a year. In prison, Francis had visions and experiences, including an encounter with a leper, which led him to fall in love with the teachings and ways of Jesus Christ.
Prior to his conversion, Francis found lepers so repulsive that he couldn’t bear to look at them even from a distance. Once while riding his horse, Francis crossed paths with a leper and wanted to flee in horror. Instead, he was filled with grace, walked to the man, and kissed his hands. Francis placed money in his hands, turned around to look, and the man had vanished. He believed that Jesus was hidden in the form of that leper.
Later, Francis sought out lepers, bathed their wounds, kissed their sores, and cared for them. He said, “The Lord himself led me among them, and I practiced mercy with them.” St. Francis lived a life that can seem impossible to strive for; embracing a degree of poverty, and loving everyone and everything. He was a peacemaker, even trying to convince the crusaders to stop the hatred, fighting and killing. The Sultan did respect Francis and granted him and his brothers open access to the Holy Land.
St. Francis was so close to Christ that he was given the gift of the Stigmata shortly before his death. The wounds of Christ were stamped in his hands, feet and side. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have to ask ourselves whether we will continue to follow our own will or surrender our lives to the will of God, the author of love and our beloved Creator. Even though Francis lived in this world, he left behind earthly priorities and focused on God. Are we capable of doing just that?
Patricia Schiissler, B.Ed., (nee Hanowski) as a lifelong Roman Catholic, was born, baptized, and received her sacraments at St. Henry’s parish in Melville, Saskatchewan. She began her education in a country, one room school (Wymer) from grades one to four. Education then began at St. Henry’s elementary school, grades five to eight and grades nine to twelve in St. Henry’s high school. Pat worked in the University of Regina library and meanwhile married Terry Schiissler in 1973 (BA, Notre Dame, Wilcox). They have 2 children. She retired from teaching at Regina Catholic Schools after 28 years. Pat studied the Understanding Our Faith series from 1997 to 2002. She then took the Lay Formation Program and was commissioned in 2018. Faith interests and accomplishments include Eucharistic ministry, Proclaimer, RCIA sponsor, Bible study facilitator, Chair, Spiritual Education, Lay Liturgy presider, Synod representative, etc. Pat became an author after retiring from teaching. She wrote and self-published, “God in my Life: How God speaks to me”. For the following two and a half years, she promoted the book while speaking to large numbers of people. There were over 25 evangelizing events across Western Canada. The experience was so meaningful that Pat decided to write and publish her second book,” God for all People: Some Fact, Some Fiction”. It is based on her faith journey relating to stories mainly strangers shared with her. Pat’s website is www.patriciaschiissler.com.
