Saint Francis was born in 1181. He was a Catholic friar and founder of theFranciscans. He is the patron saint of animals birds and the environment.Catholic chur... » 

Saint Francis was born in 1181. He was a Catholic friar and founder of theFranciscans. He is the patron saint of animals birds and the environment.Catholic churches hold ceremonies honoring animals around his feast day whichfalls on October 4. Originally Francis joined the military but a visiondeepened his spirituality and he became a friar. Literary critics consider St.Francis the first Italian poet. He believed commoners should be able to pray toGod in their own language and he always wrote in the dialect of Umbria insteadof Latin. His writings are considered to have great literary value as well asreligious importance. «