Hindus have their Gods. Christians have Saints. There are thousands of them and, like our Gods, each one “ looks after” a particular part of the world. There are Saints for Lost Causes, and Saint for acne. There are saints for death row inmates and saints for love. There are hundreds of saints for animals , who have demonstrated acts of compassion and charity on creatures great and small. Let’s remember these wise and wonderful souls. 

 

The list must naturally begin with St Francis of Assisi ,patron saint of animals, whose birthday 4th October (my mother’ birthday) is celebrated as World Animal Day. Born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, he lived the life typical of a wealthy young man until 1209, when he heard a sermon that Christ had instructed his followers to go forth without money or possessions, to spread the words of love. Francis immediately converted to a life of poverty. With 11 followers he wandered through the mountainous districts of Umbria , cheerful and full of songs. It is said that no one in history has so dedicatedly carried out the work of Christ in Christ’s own way as Francis. Holding that nature itself was the mirror of God, he called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters” and many of the stories that surround his life deal with his love for animals. Once when Francis and his followers came to a place where birds filled the trees . Francis said, “Wait for me while I preach to my sisters the birds”. The birds surrounded him and not one of them flew away while he talked. The city of Gubbio was terrorised by a maneating wolf. Francis went up into the hills, found the wolf ,made the sign of the cross and bade the wolf come to him. Miraculously the wolf lay down at the feet of St. Francis. “Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts”, said Francis. “All the townspeople curse you. Brother Wolf, I should like to make peace between you and these people”. Francis led the wolf as easily as a lamb to the people and made a pact between the two. Since the wolf killed only out of hunger, the townsfolk agreed to feed him regularly. In return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. Francis even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs who consented never to torment the wolf again. Gubbio was freed from fear.

 

Throughout his life, Francis preached about the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God’s creation and as creatures ourselves. On his deathbed, Francis turned to his donkey and thanked him for carrying and serving him throughout his life, and the donkey wept. Not surprisingly, Saint Francis is revered the greatest of all Christian saints.

 

Saint Anselm canonised in 1494,was also a wealthy youth who turned monk at an early age. Known for his fine moral and intellectual character, the true tenderness of Anselm’s nature appeared in his treatment of animals whom he regarded with respect as the product of God’s hand. In the love of animals for their offspring he saw an emblem of the love of God for man, and in any cruelty to animals on the part of man, he saw a figure of the devil’s malice and his hatred of all God’s creatures. One day upon seeing a bird teased by a boy who had fastened a string to her leg and let her fly a little way in order to pull her back again, he made him release the bird, calling what the boy was doing exactly how the devil tormented his victims. So also when a hare ran for shelter under the legs of his horse and the hunters crowded round for his capture, Francis sprang down and forbade them to touch the cornered animal. 

 

There is a female patron saint of sick animals ( I should put up her statue in my animal hospitals) St. Dwynwen of Tolentino, a 5th century Welsh daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. Dwyn visited by an Angel, committed her life to God and founded a convent on what is now Llanddwyn island, just off the Isle of Angeles. Within that Abbey, there is a miraculous spring (Ffynnon Dwynwen) which works wonders with sick animals. Over time Dwyn’s name was invoked to heal sick and distressed animals, a tradition that survives till today. 

 

Dogs have three patron saints. They are Saint Hubert of Liege, Saint Vitus and Saint Walburga. Dog lovers too have a patron saint : St Roch. Born in 1293 to the wealthy Governor of Montpellier, France, he donated his property to the poor and disguised as a pilgrim, set off to Rome . Along the way, he nursed victims of the plague with miraculous results. Contracting the dreaded disease himself at Piacenza , he went into the forest to die alone. There he was befriended by a dog who would bring him food . Thanks to the dog and later, his master, Roch recovered and returned to Montpellier . He died young but recognised for his piety.In 1414, when the plague returned to Europe , public prayers in honor of St. Roch were held and the plague vanished. The letters VSR (Viva Saint Roch)are still inscribed over doorways in Europe as protection against pestilence.

 

The Patron Saint of Domestic Animals, St Anthony was born in Egypt in 251 A.D to wealthy parents. At the age of 20, he gave away his money and retired to an abandoned fort in the desert for 20 years. When he emerged from the fort healthy, serene and enlightened, his fame as a healer of men and animals began to spread. At first when his preaching was scorned by men, it was the fish of the sea that came swimming in shoals, before the eyes of the whole city, to listen to his words. A hungry mule venerated the Blessed Sacrament rather than eat food, in proof of St. Anthony’s teaching. A pig is said to have followed him everywhere after the saint cured the pig of a serious disease.Statues of St Anthony depict the desert hermit standing blessing the people and animals gathered around him. 

 

Regarded as the architect of Christian monasticism whose rules are used by monasteries and convents around the world, Saint Benedict, the original patron saint of Europe is always depicted with a raven. Perched on a thorn bush, the raven holds a piece of bread in its beak. Apparently Saint Benedict was fed poisoned bread by a jealous priest and saved by a raven. It was a raven that fed the Old Testament prophet Elijah, in his cave for many years.

 

St. Blaise, the patron saint of wild animals, was a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia in the early fourth century. When persecution of Christians began he received a message from God to go into the hills. Men hunting in the mountains discovered a cave surrounded by wild animals who were sick. Among them Blaise walked unafraid, curing them of their illnesses. 

 

St. Brigid gave sanctuary to a wild boar, turned a fox into a loving pet was kind to dogs and cows. St Colette was always accompanied by lambs and it was said that she understood the language of birds. St Gall was a special friend of bears who supplied him his needs in the forest. St. Isidore always shared his food with hungry birds. St. Jerome helped an injured lion who never left his side. St. Martin de Porres founded a shelter a place for cats and dogs, was kind even to rats and resurrected a pet dog after reproving its owner for having ‘put to sleep’ the loyal companion. St. Nicholas of Tolentino was a vegetarian who brought birds back to life. 

 

Celebrate Christ’s birthday by being kind to an animal, not eating it.

 

To join the animal welfare movement contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.