Eight hundred years ago, Francis of Assisi, one of Christianity’s most universally beloved saints — venerated by Catholics and even some Protestants — breathed his last, and Oct. 4 has been celebrated as his feast day almost ever since.
In 2026, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Jan. 10 of this year through Jan. 10 of next year as the Year of St. Francis of Assisi to honor the 800th anniversary of the saint’s transition to heaven (actually Oct. 3, 1226), and Lutherans and Episcopalians are joining the celebration. They embrace him as a shared Christian saint and a powerful model of devotion, humility and care for the poor.
They include him on their liturgical calendars with a feast day, and many Protestant hymns and devotions draw directly from his legacy, such as the hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” (based on St. Francis’s Canticle of the Sun) and the famous Peace Prayer commonly associated with him (“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace”).
This past weekend, people all over the world celebrated him by doing something that was dear to his heart: being kind to animals. Specifically, Catholic churches and other organizations hosted blessings of the animals. I could have gone to any one of a dozen celebrations in Oakland alone, but I chose St. Vincent de Paul on San Pablo Avenue, and the whole atmosphere was mellow with a capital M.
People were lined up around the block, waiting their turn with their cats and dogs, but I never heard an angry bark, not even a growl or meow. Clearly, the animals had gotten into the spirit of the occasion. This particular event was earmarked for pets of homeless people, which St. Francis would have loved.
Several organizations pitched in to help, including Oakland Animal Services, Project Pet, Asian Health Services, Health Care for the Homeless, Maddie’s Fund, Petco and St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County to provide free leashes, harnesses, pet food, toys and medical care, including vaccinations.
Presiding over it all was Father Jayson Landeza, the indefatigable pastor of St. Benedict and Divine Mercy parishes and a chaplain for the Oakland Police and Fire departments; and the local branches of the FBI, Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Landeza asked God to bless each animal and its person.
The best part for me was that I got a chance to spend time with some really nice people and their pets, including Angel from San Leandro, who brought seven seriously cute Doberman/husky puppies named Floppy, Fingers, Gloves, 4-Eyes and Canello. Their mom, Mocha, stayed home, though, for some richly deserved rest.
I also met Kylie from Berkeley, who brought her pug, Valentine (“the best friend I ever had”), and a woman named Malala, who brought her little dog, Whiskers.
“I’ve never loved a dog so much,” she said.
Two students at Chabot College named Ingrid and Lesly brought a cute whippet/Chihuahua mix named Brunitta that didn’t belong to either of them.
“She belongs to a friend of ours who couldn’t come today because she’s taking an exam this afternoon,” Ingrid explained.
Chet from Oakland brought a 4-year-old dog named Flower that he adopted six months ago.
“I saw her on my computer. She was going to be put down in a couple of days, so I knew I had to save her. I’m awfully glad I did.”
It was a wonderful day, and Father Jayson summed it up best: “Our animals are there for us through everything we go through. They give us their love, their comfort and their companionship without asking for anything in return. It was beautiful to see these animals, who give so much to us, have the opportunity to receive some love and care themselves today.”
In memoriam: Finally, as long as I have a little space left, please permit me to add a personal note. Oct. 2 was the day that a great coach died. His name was Tony Reno, the football coach at Yale for 14 years until he took a medical leave of absence last year because of his deteriorating health.
He beat Harvard seven of his final nine meetings against them in The Game, but it wasn’t about winning; it was how he did it. His greatest talent was building character. He taught his players to aspire to be better people, saying it makes you a better player but it’s also its own reward.
The day after he died, his heartbroken son Dante, who is Yale’s starting quarterback, went out and, despite his grief, threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns to beat Merrimack 41-24. His father had taught him never to let his teammates down, and he didn’t. “This one’s for you, pops,” he posted online afterward.
Martin Snapp can be reached at catman442@comcast.net.