Hola Hermano…

October 4th is the Feast Day of San Francisco de Asis.

And the FIRST thing I think of when remembering this Saint is what my Mother has learned from him and what she practices everyday, with almost every creature.  She calls all creatures Hermano or Hermana.  Brother or Sister, respectively.

She sees a cat, “Hola, hermano gato.”

She sees a dog, “Hola, hermano perro.”

She sees a squirrel, “Hola, hermana ardilla.” And so on, with practically all of God’s creatures, all except the SNAIL!

I don’t know what it is about the snail that she just doesn’t want to have a kinship with?  It IS God’s Creature too!  Can you imagine St. Francis of Assisi saying to the snail, “I’m sorry, but you cannot be my Brother.  You’re slimy.”

Although it may also have something to do with the word Snail in Spanish.  You see, the word is Baboso, one of the words for snail.  Baboso also can sort of mean a drooling idiot.  It means slimy.  It means a fool.  It can also be used as a drooling idiot, as I said and that is probably the definition my Mom is more attuned with when she gets mad and says it.

You see, my Mom does not curse or swear.  She hates it when any of us, her 5 children do.  Her reaction, since I can remember has been, “Que bonito.  Quien les enseño a hablar tan bonito?  Su Mamá?  Con esa boquita comen?”  And many other sentences like that.  Translated, How nice.  Who taught you to speak so beautifully?  Your Mother?  Is that the mouth you eat with?

So she does not swear.  BUT, when she gets really angry, like when some Moron almost clips her or some other close call, she will say, BABOSO!  Of course, we all Gasp!  Especially now that we’re grown.  We find it hilarious.  And it’s cute because my Mom is genuinely ashamed when she says that word.  You can see her blood rise, and her ears grow red, it is adorable!  Hence, we tease her even more.

We still await the day that she will call the Snail her Brother…Hermano Baboso.

Francis’s simple, childlike nature fastened on the thought, that if all are from one Father then all are real kin. Hence his custom of claiming brotherhood with all manner of animate and inanimate objects. The personification, therefore, of the elements in the “Canticle of the Sun” is something more than a mere literary figure. Francis’s love of creatures was not simply the offspring of a soft or sentimental disposition; it arose rather from that deep and abiding sense of the presence of God, which underlay all he said and did (Catholic Encyclopedia).

Oh, and to find out much, much more about this Wonderful Saint, click here.

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;
where there is sadness, joy;

O 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 that we are born to eternal life.

 

Canticle of the Sun

 

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

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