We just bought a statue of St Francis of Assisi for the grotto next to our driveway. He is sweetly cradling a small bird in his arms. I suppose people might think we’re Catholic when they drive up but that’s okay. We just like what he stands for.
St Francis was a Franciscan monk – the founder of the Order, actually – born in Assisi, Italy, and he lived from 1181 to 1226. He was known for taking a vow of poverty and for his love and kindness to animals and nature.
We have visited a lot of cathedrals and museums in Europe and there is no shortage of history about St Francis. Since doing a little reading about him, I have come to appreciate how he was also known for teaching the Bible in ways people of the time could understand it.
I like that.
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