Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - Blessing of the Animals

Saint Francis is one of the most "popular" of all the saints. He can be seen in gardens around the world. He is enshrined on bird baths and bird feeders. The prayer that we associate with him, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace," is one of the most popular prayers circulated. He is the patron saint of animal lovers, peace-makers, and ecologists. He is associated with important works of mercy to the poor and marginalized. Yet, one of the more interesting elements of the story of St. Francis, is the rejection of the system of anxiety he made when he accepted the invitation of Christ.