13th

I subscribe to AMERICA magazine, and thought I would share an article about Saint Francis from the September 22nd Issue. (LINK to READ - Real Francis: -HERE)


One part of the article which really hit home was: "G. K. Chesterton once wrote, “Truth...must of necessity be stranger than fiction, for we have made fiction to suit ourselves.” ... "

Saint Francis of Assisi is a familiar figure to many people. As a result, the Francis that comes to mind is a fictional character typically, pictures and stories of an animal 'whisperer', and this obscures the reality of his life and teaching.

He was a really unique, unconventional, and sometimes DISTURBING person. Not too focused on 'proper' methods or the way things 'should' be done. The article summarizes six aspects of Francis' vision. Beginning with FRIENDSHIP, the article describes how the rest that follows all work together.

Embracing the “other.” , Poverty, Spirituality, Care and DEATH, were integrated along with Friendship, into a vision of how life should be lived.

The article was written by Jon M. Sweeney who is the author of When Saint Francis Saved the Church: How a Converted Medieval Troubadour Created a Spiritual Vision for the Ages (Ave Maria Press)

He ends his article with an invitation to all Christians to learn and apply what St. Francis of Assisi taught.
"Let us continue to look to St. Francis of Assisi. And let us see that, with the help of Pope Francis and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, perhaps the transformation that happened 800 years ago is still happening today."

'*** STORY of SAINT***
St. Edward King and Confessor-------His feast is kept on the 13th of October,

I followed several links to read about King Edward. The picture is from the Bayeux Tapestry which has an interesting history.

St. Edward was the first King of England to touch for the "king's evil". He cured many sufferers from the illness, which created an unfortunate tradition and superstitious beliefs about the 'holiness' of all monarchs in England and France.

The Kings Evil = I learned was the name given to scrofula, the swelling of the bones and lymphatic glands in the neck. Now recognised to be tuberculosis. that was thought to be cured by the touch of royalty in England and France. (follow link for more...)
He was canonized by Alexander III in 1161. his incorrupt body having been solemnly translated on that day in 1163 by St. Thomas of Canterbury in the presence of King Henry II.
Vita Ædwardi Regis qui apud Westmonasterium Requiescit ("Life of King Edward who rests at Westminster")