Francesco Bernardone was born in Italy in 1182 and welcomed all living beings, from the oldest to the youngest, from nobles to lepers.
This October 4th we celebrate the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. He, known as the protector of animals and the patron saint of ecology, was born in Umbria, Italy, in 1182. Find out more about his story.
Story of Saint Francis of Assisi
The son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Francisco Bernardone lived with bohemians and ended up in prison at the age of twenty. This was a turning point in his life, because he later began to lose interest in superficiality and converted to poverty, always paying attention to nature. His whole life was a life of prayer, meditation and contemplation down to the simplest detail, like an ant walking in the grass.
Why is Saint Francis the protector of animals?
In his psalms Saint Francis lived by citing the works of God, as happens in “Sister flower, which has just opened, speaks of love that has no end. Sister water which is reborn in us and leaves the earth singing like this: hallelujah!“. Furthermore, according to tradition, Saint Francis lived surrounded by swallows and even tamed a wild wolf. For the latter it didn’t take much, it was enough to say: “Come here, brother Wolf, I command you from Christ, that you do not harm me or anyone else”.
Creator of the living nativity scene
The saint was known for his kindness towards all living beings. And, at Christmas 1223, he wanted to create the first nativity scene with live animals, a tradition that remains in culture to this day. He did not forget the importance of vegetables, the cosmos and the stars, he always thanked everyone and hugged everyone, from the oldest to the youngest, from nobles to lepers.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
