{"product_id":"st-francis-of-assisi-pray-for-us","title":"St. Francis of Assisi | Pray for Us","description":"\u003cp\u003eHeavyweight 100% cotton shirt with a relaxed drop-shoulder fit, vintage garment wash, tonal chest embroidery, and a woven SIGNUMX interior neck label.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSt. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181 to 1226), founder of the Franciscans, is honored on October 4 and was declared Patron of Ecology by Pope St. John Paul II on November 29, 1979.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuick Facts\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background:rgba(255,255,255,0.05); border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15); border-radius:8px; padding:14px 18px; margin:18px 0; color:#F5F5F5;\"\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; color:#F5F5F5; background:transparent;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 12px 6px 0; vertical-align:top; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap;\"\u003eFeast Day\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 0;\"\u003eOctober 4, Memorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 12px 6px 0; vertical-align:top; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap;\"\u003eLife \u0026amp; Canonization\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 0;\"\u003eDied October 3, 1226; canonized July 16, 1228 by Gregory IX. Franciscan Jubilee Year for the 800th anniversary of his death runs to January 10, 2027\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 12px 6px 0; vertical-align:top; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap;\"\u003ePatronage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 0;\"\u003eEcology, animals, peace, and Italy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 12px 6px 0; vertical-align:top; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap;\"\u003eSymbols\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:6px 0;\"\u003eBrown habit with a knotted cord, the stigmata, birds and animals, the San Damiano crucifix\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Life of St. Francis of Assisi\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrancis was the fun-loving son of a rich cloth merchant who dreamed of being a knight. After war, illness and an encounter with Christ, he traded it all for a patched tunic and a life of joy with the poor. He called the sun his brother and the moon his sister, and friends flocked to follow him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStories about him are full of warmth: he preached to a flock of birds that stayed to listen, made peace with a hungry wolf at Gubbio, and at Christmas in 1223 set up the first living Nativity at Greccio with a real ox and donkey so people could see how humble God became. Every October 4, parishes bless pets in his honor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote style=\"background:rgba(255,255,255,0.05); border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15); border-radius:8px; padding:14px 18px; margin:18px 0; color:#F5F5F5; border-left:3px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5); font-style:italic;\"\u003e“Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style:normal; font-size:0.9rem; opacity:0.8;\"\u003eSt. Francis, \u003cem\u003eCanticle of the Creatures\u003c\/em\u003e (c. 1224 to 1225)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003ch3\u003eShirt Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFabric:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavyweight 100% cotton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Relaxed drop-shoulder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDetails:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chest embroidery, woven SIGNUMX neck label\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Machine wash cold, tumble dry low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are animals blessed on his feast?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eFrancis treated every creature as part of God's family, so on or near October 4 many parishes invite people to bring dogs, cats, horses and even goldfish for a blessing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDid St. Francis start the Nativity scene?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eYes. In 1223 at Greccio he arranged a manger with a live ox and donkey and celebrated Christmas Mass there. Every family crèche continues his idea.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the story of the wolf of Gubbio?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eA wolf was frightening the town of Gubbio. Francis went out, called it Brother Wolf, and arranged a peace: the town would feed it, and the wolf would harm no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDid he really preach to birds?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eThat is one of the most loved stories about him. He told the birds to praise God for their feathers and wings, and they stayed until he blessed them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the Canticle of the Sun?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eA joyful song Francis wrote praising God through Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Fire and Sister Water. It is one of the first great poems in Italian.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is he the patron of?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eAnimals, ecology, Italy and all who love simplicity and peace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 2px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho were his close friends?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003eSt. Clare, who founded the Poor Clares, and the brothers who became the Franciscans, today one of the largest religious families in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Why are animals blessed on his feast?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Francis treated every creature as part of God's family, so on or near October 4 many parishes invite people to bring dogs, cats, horses and even goldfish for a blessing.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Did St. Francis start the Nativity scene?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. 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