What can we learn from St. Francis of Assisi?
On October 4th each year, we celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. In churches all over last weekend, people brought their pets to be blessed. We know that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. Did you know that he is also the patron saint of ecologists, merchants, and Italy?
The patron saint of animals and ecologists makes sense. St. Francis was called to be a preacher and as the legend goes, he preached to all creatures, two and four legged. He liked to pray in nature; he found God in the quiet. His message is of peace and harmony among all creatures.
The words to the prayer that are below seem simple enough, except they aren’t simple at all. I should be the instrument of peace in the middle of hatred, injury, doubt, darkness, and sadness? The answer is yes, absolutely. It’s two sides to the same coin. Love/hate, Pardon/injury, faith/doubt, hope/despair, light/darkness, joy/sadness. How do I stay in peace when there is so much going on in my world and beyond?
My way of making it through trials and adversity is just to do the next right thing; however big or small it is. I don’t have to think farther than that. What is the right thing to do right now? I do it with as much grace as I can muster and keep moving. Something that stays with me is that light conquers darkness every time. There is light in every living being. If I can see the light in others, I am on my way to being an instrument of peace.
Where are you today and what are you dealing with? Today, and all month, pray the words of St. Francis and see if it makes your world just a little more peaceful.
Exito y adelante, Amiga
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