Saint Francis of Assisi

Today is the day the church celebrates the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. According to the historical record, Francis was downhill from Assisi in the ruined church of San Damiano in January of 1206, when while praying before a large icon cross heard Jesus tell him, Francis, go and rebuild My Church, which as you can see, is falling into ruin." Francis composed the following prayer, which he wrote down soon afterwards:

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant unto me right faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding, Lord, so that I may accomplish Thy holy and true mandate.

Francis went on to physically rebuild the ruined church in San Damiano and then to spiritually rebuild the Body of Christ through his own example of a life lived in radical conformity to the Gospel. A religion column in our archives on Francis is The one guy who followed Jesus. Thoughts from our recent trip to Assisi are online as well.

Blessing of the Animals
Our local celebration in honor of the Italian Saint will be this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the gazebo in the waterfront park in St. Mary's, there Father Gabe Cummings, Brother Verdell Griffin and myself will officiate at a Blessing of the Animals being sponsored by the Humane Society of Camden County in conjunction with the Rock Shrimp Festival. So please bring your pets to the festival and be at the gazebo where our short service of blessing will start promptly at 1 p.m.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor