St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with a service of the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone was an Italian friar and preacher who lived from 1181-1226. He was venerated as a saint in 1228.  

According to legend, he created the Christmas Crèche, or nativity scene, and is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment.

St. Francis was also a prolific writer. He may be best known for a simple prayer he penned that has survived to this day:  

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

St. Catherine’s is located at 571 Holt Road. The public is welcome to attend.