Thank You, St. Francis of Assisi. Your Presence is of Great Comfort.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth. ~St. Francis of Assisi

Today marks the death of St. Francis of Assisi who is best known as the patron saint of animals.

I can’t even tell you how many years I searched for just the “right” statue of him that spoke to me. It wasn’t until the passing of my dachshund, Gidget, in May 2019 that a St. Francis statue found its way to me and captured my heart. Another reminder that all things are in divine timing.

He now resides in my garden watching over my three dachshunds, Frankie, Joie, and Gidget, who were all laid to rest outside my writing cottage.

On days I feel an unexpected wave of grief that comes to pay a visit, I find great comfort in either standing in my garden near St. Francis or gazing out the window at him.

As I’ve come to experience, and what has really sunk into my being of consciousness with the passing of Gidget, is that all my dear animal friends remain with me. Just in a new way of which I cannot see them, but rather feel them with me. The teachings they bestowed upon me sink deeper into my being with each passing year. It really is such a beautiful gift that continues to help me evolve into a deeper understanding that they are still here.

I enjoyed finding this bit of information about him:

“Francis saw animals as his brothers and sisters and prayed that God would work through him to help them. Birds sometimes gathered while Francis spoke and listened to him. Francis began preaching to them about the ways that God had blessed them.

When Francis lived in Gubbio, in the province of Perugia, a wolf was attacking people and other animals. He met the wolf to try to tame it. The wolf charged Francis, but Francis prayed and moved toward the wolf. The wolf obeyed Francis’ commands, closing his mouth and lying at Francis’ feet. Francis promised that the townspeople would feed the wolf regularly if it promised never to injure another person or animal. The wolf never harmed people or animals again.”I
 
I feel so blessed to have had many animals work through me and guide me so far. I also never knew of this story of the wolf laying at his feet, which brought tears to my eyes. As I’ve shared here before, and share in my memoir out early next year, I was visited by a wolf during a guided visualization in 2015.
 
I remember how I first feared her, but then as she slowly crept toward me I sensed she was there to help me. Eventually, she lay at my feet and brought me the message to keep my heart open. This was during a time when I was in a great deal of pain from the loss of a friendship. To this day, I carry her message with me.
 
So thank you, St. Francis of Assisi for guiding us to understand that the animals indeed are our friends, our teachers, and some of our greatest allies.

XO,

Barbara

Source for quote.