In Honor of the Animals and One Man

Animals play an important part in our lives. Every culture has an animal that stands out but today, it's about all the animals.

In Catholic and Anglican faith, today is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

To celebrate, Rev. Peggy Bryan, an Episcopal Priest from Saddlebags, a ministry of the Diocese of El Camino Real, will be positioned at the entrance of the Los Gatos Creek Trail at today between 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m. to offer a blessing and treat to any and all dogs out for a walk.

"Many churches (Catholic and Episcopal) will offer a 'Blessing of the Animals' on the prior Sunday at their parishes," Bryan said in an email. "I want to take the blessing out to the dogs for a change!"

Here are some quick *facts about the saint, what he did and what his legacy is.

• Saint Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone on October 3, 1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher.
• St. Francis is honored in the Church of England, the Anglican Church of Canada, in the Old Catholic Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and other churches and religious communities on October 4.
• He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis.
• St. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.
• In 1223, Francis arranged for the first Christmas manger scene.
• He died in 1226 while singing Psalm 141.
• On July 16, 1228, he was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX.

Information gathered from Wikepedia.