Make us channels of your peace

Growing up, I attended a Franciscan middle school, so I was completely familiar with the Feast of St. Francis. Our whole school used to go out to one of the beautiful local parks that Francis would have loved so well, and those nuns ran us utterly ragged there. I still have no idea why they took such demonic pleasure in seeing us huff and puff through the hills and vales on scavenger hunts while they beamed at us from beneath a picnic shelter.

Despite the annual experience described above, I love Saint Francis and am inspired to try to follow, in my own, small way, his call to charity and his dedication to peace and to the natural world. I suggested the name 'Clare Frances' with each pregnancy. Therefore I was thrilled to take the girls to our local parish last night for a traditional Blessing of the Pets. From a kid perspective, it's a truly exciting experience to see that many animal carriers, dogs on leashes, nonchalant cats lolling on laps, rodentia in Habitrails, and reptiles in clear plastic carrying cases all in one place. Some smaller children even brought stuffed animals. (Actually, it was all rather engaging from a parental perspective as well).

I'm not sure how much Fiona or Nora got out of Francis' speech this year, and I know our cat Ivy was nonplussed to be dragged outside to be sprinkled with holy water. But our family was glad to have attended, if a mite chilly. And if reflecting upon the life of St. Francis helps our family discuss living more simply and loving nature and the environment... well, we've had a great day.