Matthew 10:5-14  ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,  ⁶ but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  ⁷ As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'  ⁸ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.  ⁹ Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,  ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.  ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.  ¹² As you enter the house, greet it.  ¹³ If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

            Today is the official commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi.  You may have seen several advertisements for churches around town holding a St. Francis festival, usually with the Blessing of the Animals.  We will celebrate this festival next Saturday on the church property.  St. Francis was a Catholic deacon and a preacher in the late 1100’s and early 1200’s.  He is considered the patron saint of animals, the environment, and one of two patron saints of Italy.  He is also the founder of the Order of the Friars Minor, also known as the Franciscans.

            St. Francis is said to have heard a sermon on the above text as a small child.  That text led him on his journey of devotion to God and to God’s creation.  Within a year of the start of his ministry, he had 11 followers.  It is at that time that he petitioned the pope for the creation of his new order.  His order was granted by the pope and continually grew. 

            Besides being famous for his sainthood, Francis is also one of the receivers of the stigmata.  Because of this, he actually has two commemoration days, Oct 4 for him as saint, and September 17, which is the celebration of his stigmata.  The stigmata is the bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands & feet.  The stigmata has had numerous books and movies made about it.  St. Francis was the first recorded stigmatic in history.

For more information about St. Francis, check out:

Francis of Assisi - Wikipedia

Also, here are some images of him, including one of him receiving the stigmata.

In our prayers this week:  Robert, Ann, Charles (having surgery this week), and Scott.

God’s Peace,