FAMILY WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER consists of a BLESSING PRAYER FOR PETS AND ANIMALS.

To pray for an end to the destruction of biodiversity and protection of National Parks visit https://youtu.be/eSR089CgxBc.

October 4. St Francis. After they returned from their eco-safari Michael shared with his fellow confirmation candidates. “Just like there are many Theresa’s there are also many Francises in families. Quite often children choose these as their confirmation patrons and to be their role models. “ “How much do you know about him, so that he can really be a model for you?” Tracy asked.  Michael shared, “He lived 1000 years ago.  He was a playboy, came from a wealthy family but had a conversion experience. Jesus appeared to him and said, ‘Go and rebuild my church.’ At first he thought he had to go and rebuild a broken down old building but what Jesus meant was to go and build up the people, including himself, to love Jesus, the poor and all of creation, animals and plants too. Although his later life was not easy as he suffered much from nearly going blind and the pain of the stigmata – the five wounds of Jesus on his body – he was filled with the joy of love.  We have discovered that and now our family is trying to follow this way, as we follow our parents who really are witnesses to us and in the world.  Like St Francis we are working to be carers for OUR WORLD, A FAMILY OF FAMILIES.”  And the whole family shared one big hug of gratitude and love. “We really enjoyed this way of celebrating the SEASON OF CREATION” they all agreed. (The image today is the front garden of Toni Rowland’ s home, taken early this morning.)

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:     Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls    Matt 11: 28-29. Pope Francis:  to Youth at World Youth Day 2023 as he repeated often in recent months.  The youth and elderly need one another. The elderly are their roots and wisdom and the youth the source of joy and hope… St Francis faithful to scripture invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. God’s eternal power and divinity have been made known through his works since the creation of the world.  LS 12. The divine Persons, the Trinity, are subsistent relations, and the created world is a web of relationships. The human person grows more, matures more and is sanctified more to the extent that he or she enters relationships, going out from themselves to live in communion with God, with others and with all creatures.  LS240   Eco-tip and prayer:  Young people could do more to make St Francis a true model of an eco-family-friendly caring way of life. Why not begin with a prayer and a special blessing of all animals, pets, domestic and wild?   Pray with  St Francis Canticle of the Creatures or the Peace Prayer of St Francis.

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,

through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,  through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,  and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.  Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.

Peace prayer of St Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith,

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

 Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying (to self) that we are born to eternal life. Amen