“Francis of Assisi had a profound respect and love for all of God's creatures,” said the Rev. Bob Hudak, vicar of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville.

In recognition of the feast of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, which fell on Oct. 4, a special blessing was conferred on more than 50 cherished pets belonging to members of the Church of the Nativity and the Catholic Church of St. Gabriel, in Fayetteville.

The unconditional love pets have for their owners can be compared to the unconditional love God has for us, Hudak said. The tradition of blessing God's creatures started soon after Francis' death, he said.

“We've always been doing this, but it's becoming more common. More churches are embracing the opportunity,” he said. “It's a sign of God's love.”

This is the second year the two churches gathered to celebrate the feast of Francis and pray for the well-being of all the furry, finned and feathered friends gathered. Hudak and the Rev. Tim Hepburn, pastor of St. Gabriel's, gave their blessing as the assembled cats and dogs barked and meowed in response.

Stone-cast images of Francis maintain a constant vigil in gardens and meditation corners worldwide. So who was this early animal rights activist and ecologist?

Francis was born in 1181, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in the Italian village of Assisi. He led a privileged life and today would have been referred to as a playboy. He served as a knight in one of the Holy Wars and during his captivity by the enemy, had a life-altering revelation.

He returned home to renounce his wealth and worldly ways, and assumed a life of poverty. Francis wore a rough brown robe cinched with a rope as a belt and went barefoot, begging for only what he needed. He rejoiced in the natural beauty of the world and called the creatures of the earth his brothers and sisters. He was kind to even the lowliest of worms, moving them out of the road to prevent their being crushed.

Francis' innate joy was contagious and he drew people to God's message through his itinerant preaching. Eventually, other men wished to follow the life-style of Francis and they became known as the Friars Minor. Today members of this religious order are called Franciscans.

According to stories about Francis, he was first to assemble a life-size scene of the first Christmas using real people and real animals.

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