St. Francis a role model for all of us

Today is a special day for me.

In the Catholic tradition and custom, it is the feast day of one of the most popular and beloved saints in the faith - St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis holds a special place in my heart and not only because he was Italian. Years ago, I was so captivated by him that I read numerous books which chronicled his amazing life in the late 1100's and early 1200's.

So much so that I became part of the Secular Franciscan order which pledged to live life - as best we could - following the example of this extraordinary saint.

Why is he so revered in the history of the Catholic Church and even by those who are not Catholic?

He lived what he preached.

St. Francis is often depicted in illustrations in a natural setting surrounded by animals and birds. He was a lover of nature and saw the importance of protecting our natural landscape and respecting it.

He was also someone who showed pure love in dealing with people. All people. Including the outcasts of society.

Another one of his well-known qualities was his detachment from material things. Francis shunned all the wealth he was born into to live a simple life with very few possessions, showing us all that we really don't need all the things that we do have.

Francis is also known as a man of peace - an instrument of peace as his famous prayer recites.

All of the above qualities come from a main source and that was his faith. St. Francis was a man deeply devoted to prayer and to following Jesus Christ. That was his foundation.

Centuries later he remains one of the most famous saints and personalities the world has ever seen - and even today a role model for all of us.