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Bible Verse of the Day
Today's passage is from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
Passage changes daily, so come back tomorrow!
Check out other pages!
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St. Francis of Assisi:
The Man Who Talked to the Animals 
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| Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the Gospel literally by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit, and without a bit of self-importance. As a youth, Francis enjoyed bright clothing, rich friends, street brawls, and a love of pleasure. Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi's youth. Prayer led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ. He gave up every thing he had, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work, bringing sadness or disgust to the hearts of his former friends and ridicule from the unthinking. A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of preaching, but always returned to quiet prayer when he was able. During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44) he was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata: the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side. On his deathbed, he asked to have his clothes removed so he could die lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord. | 
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Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals. He preached to both humankind and beast the ability and duty of all creatures to praise God and the duty of human beings to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves. (See the St. Francis & the Animals storybook below.)
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Saint Francis of Assisi |
We Thank You, God, for Animal Friends
Words: Jann Aldredge-Clanton Music: Larry E. Schultz
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Come now and join in the celebration!
Sing and give thanks for God's good creation.
All living creatures, large and small,
Are gifts from the Spirit, Maker of all!
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Bless all animals everywhere,
In our homes and flying through air,
In the fields and rivers on earth.
Thank you, God, for giving them birth:
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We thank you, God, for animal friends.
They cause us to marvel, laugh and grin.
They cuddle close when we are sad.
They jump for joy when we are glad.
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The kittens and puppies, the goldfish and guppies,
The roosters and hens, the sparrows and wrens,
The parrots and colts, the hamsters and goats,
The spaniels and beagles, penguins and eagles.
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Come now and join in the celebration!
Sing and give thanks for God's good creation.
All living creatures, large and small,
Are gifts from the Spirit, Maker of all!
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Come now and join in the celebration!
Sing and give thanks for God's good creation.
All living creatures, large and small,
Are gifts from the Spirit, Maker of all!
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We thank you, God, for animal friends.
They guide and protect us and defend.
They sense and warn when danger's near.
They help us see. They help us hear. |
We thank you, God, and promise to care
For animals, animals, animals everywhere! Everywhere!
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Click "PLAY"
below to open the storybook
Stories
of St. Francis & the Animals
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Video created by: Daryl Hackbart
Words:
Jaroslav Vajda, 1983 Music: ROEDER Carl F. Schalk,
1983
Performed by: The River's Voice
This song asks us to observe the wonders of God's Creation around us. Seeing all that exists-—the lovely and the harsh-—we have no choice but to respond to the Creator of all. How do we, as God's children, show our wonder, love, faith, and sorrow? Rather than answering those questions, this song simply lays out the images and asks us to think about our responses to God.
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Run your mouse around the screen until you find the pulsing red dot......then click it!
Hint: Once you find "Feeling the heat", you will be getting close to victory!
Great fun for all ages.
"Where's the Animal?" courtesy of the San Diego Zoo. For more zoo games, click here.
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Click the silly sheep to tell
us what you think.
Don't worry, you'll be
able to come back here. |
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