St. Francis and Felines
A message for today and a CSSJ event
By Meredith Toussaint
“If there is one thing college students are always down for, it’s either food or pets,” said Claire Frederick, the office coordinator at the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice (CSSJ) on campus, and a St. Kate’s alum herself. This thought first inspired their planning for the campus event on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi this fall, the blessing of animals after Sunday Mass. On Oct. 2, all are welcome to bring their dogs, cats and any other pets to the 10:30 a.m. Mass, which will be held outside on the south CdC patio.
You may wonder why the Feast of St. Francis is important, or why St. Catherine University is holding an event for it. While he is not the patron of our university, St. Francis is one of the most well-known saints in the Catholic Church. He lived in Italy in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and was the founder of the Franciscan order.
A statue of St. Francis of Assisi outside Whitby Hall on campus.
Francis is known for having a great concern for the poor, but is perhaps most famous for his love for the natural world and his connection with animals. Legend says he would sit outside and preach to the birds, and the birds would gather around him as he spoke. Therefore, many years later, churches continue to bless the animals most important to their parishioners on Francis’s feast day.
Since the natural world is something everyone can appreciate, it is a point of connection for people of all different beliefs and faith backgrounds. “It’s a way of being connected to spirituality without necessarily being connected to religion,” said Katie Jonza, the CSSJ liturgist. “Focusing on creation is a way to be connected to the universe and to each other.” This event is not just designed for Catholics, but for anyone who loves animals and wants to enjoy the community aspect.
Although he lived almost eight centuries ago, the work and ideas of St. Francis of Assisi are still relevant to our world today. In the era of accelerating climate change, his care for the earth is an important lesson for us all.
In the words of Sr. Sharon Howell, director of the CSSJ, “He knew that peace, care for the poor and care for the earth were critical. If you have that access to the church, to education, you have to use it. Take that responsibility and use it for the best possible outcome.” St. Francis’s communion with nature centuries ago challenges us today to stand up for and protect our environment.
Additionally, St. Francis was an advocate for interfaith dialogue and respect. After spending time with Muslims in Egypt, Francis came back and encouraged Christians to be more like Muslims in their devotion to prayer. Going against mainstream ideas of the time, he actually told his Christian followers that their job was not to convert others to Christianity. Francis promoted recognition of the ideas and customs of many different faiths, something many churches lack even today.
The CSSJ staff wants to continue hosting events that focus on outreach to all different groups of people around campus. They are excited to see students, faculty, staff and community members on Oct. 2, as well as at many other events throughout the semester, including weekly Friday prayers with the Muslim Student Association, a Halloween event in Our Lady of Victory Chapel, late night Masses on the third Sunday of every month, the annual service on the feast of St. Catherine in November and more. Follow @spiritandjustice on Instagram to find information and stay up-to-date on what is next.
