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Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi: Feast Day Oct. 4th

Saint Francis is probably one of the most well known and beloved saints of people throughout the world. Is it his decision to turn away from wealth and instead choose a life of poverty that inspires us? His love of all God’s animals and the tradition of blessing the animals on his feast day? Or is it the beautiful “Prayer of Saint Francis” and his asking to be used as a channel of peace by God? (If you’re interested in reading about the tradition of blessing the animals and the prayer that is often used, here is a link from Franciscan Media).

As we celebrate Saint Francis today, I ask you to think what is it that inspires you about him and how you can use that inspiration to help you grow in your own journey towards sanctification. Pope Francis, the only pope so far to select the name Francis as his papal name, challenges us through his selection of the Saint from Assisi’s name, to be beautiful witnesses and models of peace and service, striving to emulate sainthood in the brokenness of today’s modern world.

Celebrating Saint Francis with food!

Since Saint Francis loved animals and all things about nature, my family served animal crackers and “ants on a log” (celery, peanut butter and raisins) as appetizers before our family brunch. These are both easy and fun snacks kids of any age can have fun with. 

For our family brunch after Mass, since Saint Francis’ feast day fell on a Sunday this year, we had an Italian inspired meal. I made an Italian sausage and egg breakfast casserole, which we served with salami and Asiago cheese (in Italy serving meats and cheeses as part of breakfast is traditional). We also had grapes as our fruit.


Craft time!

Craft 1:

Today my family printed a copy of the “Prayer of Saint Francis.” We then cut out crosses from construction paper for each member of our family and hung them under the prayer. Taking yarn, we then attached strings coming down from the payer to the crosses (to symbolize channels of peace) and led them to drawings of ourselves. We then each wrote one way on our crosses that we could be a channel of peace in our family.

Here is a beautiful rendition of the “Make me a Channel of Your Peace” prayer sung with images from Italy in the background you and your family can listen to today.

Craft 2: Tau 

After my parents traveled to Italy and visited Assisi on a pilgrimage, they brought my family back a “Tau cross.” The Tau is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet and was an early Christian symbol representing Christ’s cross. It was also the symbol that Saint Francis used to sign his letters. You and your family can print a Tau cross to color and hang above the doors in your home at the bottom of this Tau Cross Statements and Fact Sheet from the Secular Franciscans of the USA. Here is also some additional reading about the Tau  if you and your family are interested.

          This is the Tau cross we have hanging in our home. 

Here is also a great cartoon video, from EWTN about Saint Francis of Assisi, you and your family can watch together after making crafts. My two toddlers love these cartoons! 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful day celebrating Saint Francis of Assisi!

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