I took this photo on Saturday afternoon the day after Storm Amy swept through Ireland with very heavy rain and high winds

Last Saturday (October 4th) was the feast day of Saint Francis. He is one of those rare saints who has managed to capture the attention and admiration of the entire world. His life has inspired people of all ages and the appeal of this saint cuts across national boundaries and religious differences.

He is most famous for his respect towards God, his simple life and his tender love and attention to all creation. Francis had little time for excess, waste and greed. He always stood up for the poor and downtrodden. His voice is even more relevant in the turbulent and world of upheaval that we have been living in recently.

There is a lot of fear and anxiety. Francis spoke boldly and loudly a message of peace. For peace in the world to happen we must be at peace ourselves first. Today’s feast day encourages us to invite the peace of God into our lives. We are invited to accept ourselves as we are, to love ourselves more and to let inner peace fill our hearts.

His love of animals has been well documented too. He was the inspiration for the first crib at Christmas and we all know what a beautiful tradition that has become. We all know the difference a pet can make in people’s lives. So if you have a pet, make sure you give them a treat today in honour of St Francis!