The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-06-13
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSIST.


is a couplet frequently on my lips, but
until lately l have never read a life
of this wonderful man who was so
good a friend to birds and beasts and |
humankind.
This is the way Miss Marshall Saun-
ders of Nova Scotia begins several
stories about st. Francis in the maya
zine "Our Dumb Animals" They tell
of how the blessed founder of the
Franciscans dealt with birds and
beasts and will surely interest every
boy and girl who reads this column.
Beginning from the time when he
was wild young soldier, singing with
his friends through the streets of the
town of Spoleto, his history is a mar
velous one. For in the midst of his
revelry, he was turned back by a
vision, and falling into an ecstasy, lit
repented him that he had so griev-
ously sinned, nor could he take pleas
ure either in the past nor in the pres
ent for he had not yet received assur-
ance that he would refrain from sin
in the future"
A little later, while praying in a
ruinous church, he heard these words,
Francis, seest thou not that my house
is being destroyed? Go therefore and
repair it,
And he trembling and astonished,
said, Gladly will do it, o Lord"
From that hour his heart was
| bruised and melted, and, taking in
literal sense the command to repair
Gods house, he begged in Assist for
stones which he carried on his Shout
ders to repair the Church of st.
| Damian.
He wooed "the Lady Poverty" and
| begged his food from door to door.
Soon, disciples joined him, and gave
up all their worldly possessions. This
devoted band of men preached with
fervor, and vast numbers of persons
were converted. This all happened
about the year 1912.
The influence of st. Francis became
more and more far-reaching, owing
firstly, to his absolute devotion to the
person of his Lord and Master, and
secondly, to his own loving person
atty. The very success of his move
ment in later years frustrated some
of his early plans for his order, but
for that ST. Francis cannot be held
responsible. For a lover of animals,
his great interest lies in the fact that
his intense religious devotion did not
interfere with his care of those who
could not speak for themselves. Good
ST. Francis loved every created thing.
There are still monks who guard his
rocky retreat up in the hills back of
Assist, and when my sister visited
them two years ago, they talked much
to her of the saint, and later sent her
narcissus and cyclamen bulbs that
she planted in her garden in Roches-
ter, New York. They also sent her
pictures of the trees where the little
birds sat when St. Francis preached
; his memorable sermon to them.
my sisters the birds" he said
much are We beholden to God your
creator, and Away and in every place
ought we to praise Him, because He
; hath given you liberty to fly, and
hath clothed you with twofold and
threefold raiment Moreover, He pre-
, served your seed in the ark, and He
feedeth you and giveth you rivers and
fountains wherein to drink"
At the end of the sermon, the birds
began to open their beaks, and tC
stretch out their necks, and to spread
their wings, and reverently to bow
: their heads even unto the ground, anG
: to show by their motions and theil
> songs that the holy Father gave them
, very great delight. Then he made
. over them the sign of the Cross, anG
they flew into the air with wondrou:
). SONGS"
Even more interesting to me thar
= the bird sermon is the story of 'the
very fierce wolf of Agobio."
This wolf devoured not only
animals, but also men and women ant
''for dread of him no one dared tt
: leave the city"
st. Francis, making the sign of the
= Cross, took the road to the VOLTS re
treat. The wolf made at him witt
> open mouth, whereupon st. Francis ad
4 NduC6u IOWdFu ulLu, COul0 ulLuSl
friar wolf. | command thee il
Christ's name that thou do no harm
to me nor to any other" o marvel
= Gus thing! Scarcely had st. Franci:
made the sign of the Cross than the
terrible wolf came and laid himself
down at the feet of the holy man.
Now, just here | would say tt
doubters, that about the year of oul
e Lord 1908, l heard an animal love-
n in the city of Boston assert that HI
f did not believe any wild creature
i would injure any man who would con
4 front him with absolute fearlessness
He cited his own case when he hat
gone among rattlesnakes and had re
b ceived no injury.
r To continue the story of the wolf
He went like gentle lamb to the
S piazza with ST. Francis, who, shrewC
S loving old saint as he was, took occa
sion to preach sermon to the as
u sembled multitude, using the con
u quered wild beast as an illustration.
r At the close of the sermon, fria1
wolf by gentle movements of his body
tail, and ears gave assent to a cove
e nant of peace with the people o
e Agobio. Thereafter, the said wolf liveC