| Patron Saints of Animals | | | | at 20 and decided togive all his property to the poor |
| I have always loved animals-primarily dogs. I have had | | | | and handed over the city government to his uncle. |
| four dogs in my life and each ofthem brought a | | | | Hethen began a pilgrimage to Rome disguised as a |
| different strength to my life...not to even mention | | | | mendicant pilgrim where he nursed thevictims of the |
| the unconditional love. | | | | Plague/Black Death, where he was often successful |
| If humans were like dogs, the world would be a | | | | in miraculous resultswith these victims. |
| much better place. | | | | Roch became infected with the Plague himself at |
| With that in mind, I began wondering if dogs had | | | | Piacenza and stopped his ministry as heknew he |
| guardian angels looking over them. | | | | would be contagious to others. He went into the |
| While I was always sure that they did, I wanted to | | | | forest to die alone but wasbefriended by a dog (and |
| know if there were any Saints, asrecognized by the | | | | later the master) who would bring him food snatched |
| Catholic Church that particularly aided dogs. Here is | | | | from hismaster's (Gothard) table. Roch finally |
| what I found: | | | | recovered, thanks to the nutrition andcompanionship |
| St. Francis of Assisi-Patron Saint of Animals: | | | | offered by the dog and his master and he decided to |
| Born in northern Italy (at Assisi in Umbria) in 1181 and | | | | return to Montpellier. |
| christened Giovanni (John) after | | | | Because of his illness, no one recognized him and he |
| John the Baptist, this saint began life as the son of a | | | | was thrown into a dungeon as hewas thought to be |
| wealthy cloth merchant, Pietro | | | | a spy. There Roch died at the age of 32 after 5 |
| Bernadone. John's father was French and as such, he | | | | years in the prison in |
| nicknamed him Francesco | | | | 1327. Once dead, he was finally recognized by a |
| (Francis), the "little Frenchman". As a youth, Francis | | | | family member by an X-Shapedbirthmark on his |
| was extravagant, carefree andloved by everyone. He | | | | breast and his family grieved over his horrible death. |
| was a natural leader and while growing up he became | | | | He was given apublic funeral and numerous miracles |
| the leaderof a group of young people who spent | | | | attested his sanctity. |
| their nights at wild parties and who wereaccustomed | | | | In 1414, during the Council of Constance, the black |
| to vice. | | | | plague was rampant, The Fathers ofthe Council |
| Francis wanted to be a knight. He got his chance | | | | ordered public prayers and processions in honor of St. |
| when Assisi declared war on their longtime enemy, | | | | Roch and immediatelythe plague ceased. St. Roch's |
| Perugia. Most of the troops from Assisi died in the | | | | relics were carried to Venice in 1485 where they are |
| fight; however, Franciswas taken prisoner (because | | | | stillvenerated. The letters "VSR" (Viva Saint Roch) |
| of his wealth) and held for ransom. After a year in | | | | were once inscribed over mostdoorways in Europe |
| thedungeon in Perugia, Francis's ransom was paid and | | | | as protection against pestilence. |
| he was set free. Still wanting to bea knight with all of | | | | St. Anthony the Great-Patron Saint of Domestic |
| the glory attached to that title, a call for the knights | | | | Animals: |
| for the Fourth | | | | Anthony was born in Memphis, Egypt in 251 to |
| Crusade gave him a chance for his dream. He suited | | | | wealthy parents. When he was 20 yearsold, his |
| up with a suit of armor decoratedwith gold, and he | | | | parents died and left him to care for his unmarried |
| boasted that he would return a Prince. But within one | | | | sister. After hearing the wordsof Jesus instructing |
| day's ride from | | | | him "to sell what you have and give to them poor" |
| Assisi, he had a dream in which God told him to | | | | as your rewardwould be treasures in heaven, he |
| return home, and despite the humiliationfrom the | | | | gave up his wealth to the poor and needy. He |
| townspeople, he did return home. But Francis did not | | | | alsoplaced his sister in the care of a group of |
| change overnight. He didbegin to spend more time in | | | | Christian Virgins, similar to a nunnery. He left |
| prayer, went off to a cave and wept for his sins. But | | | | Memphis for the desert living in a tomb and doing |
| therewas still a business to run...he could not give | | | | battle with the devil. The devilafflicted him with |
| himself totally over to God. | | | | boredom, laziness and phantoms of women which he |
| But on a pilgrimage to Rome, that all changed. He | | | | overcame by thepower of prayer. He wore sackcloth |
| gave up his rich attire and donned abeggar's garb and | | | | and never washed his body or his feet and spenthis |
| began ministering to those suffering from the "Black | | | | time in intense prayer. He attracted admirers from |
| Death". | | | | the local villages who would bringhim food and water. |
| After the pilgrimage to Rome, at the age of 26, | | | | Once again the devil played havoc with Anthony and |
| while praying at a chapel in San Damianothat had | | | | rendered himunconscious after beating him |
| fallen into ruin, he heard an image of Christ say to | | | | mercilessly. When the local villagers found him in |
| him "Repair my fallen | | | | thiscondition, they carried him to a church to provide |
| House". Francis took this literally and began the | | | | a haven for recovery. |
| necessary repairs on the little chapel. | | | | Once recovered, he returned to his hermit-like life, |
| However, Francis had no money of his own and so | | | | living in an old abandoned fort forsome 20 years. He |
| to pay for the restoration, he stolebolts of cloths | | | | communicated to the outside through a crevice in the |
| from his father's warehouse. This angered his father | | | | fort in whichfood and water could be passed. He did |
| so much that hethrew Francis out of the house and | | | | not allow anyone to enter his cell- those whosought |
| disinherited him. This was a turning point and a | | | | his counsel listened from the outside. The devil again |
| "freeing" moment for Francis and he spent the rest | | | | began to torture Anthony,only this time the |
| of his life emphasizing poverty,humility and discipline. | | | | phantoms were in the form of wild beasts, lions, |
| Within 15 years, Francis was the leader of 5,000 | | | | snakes and scorpions. |
| Friar's Minor | | | | But Anthony would laugh at them, invoke the name |
| (a Monk Order) and a growing Order of Nuns, Poor | | | | of God and the phantoms would turnto smoke. |
| Clares. | | | | Eventually, he did emerge from the fort with the help |
| Francis is remembered not so much as a religious | | | | of villagers tearing a wall down. |
| organizer but as a charismatic exampleand a | | | | While all expected him to be wasted away or insane |
| compassionate soul for the unusual. It is believed that | | | | from his isolation, he emergedhealthy, serene and |
| he preached sermons tobirds and entered into a | | | | enlightened. He was hailed as a hero and his fame |
| peace treaty with a wolf so that the wolf would no | | | | began to spread. |
| longerterrorize a town. In 1224, he was granted the | | | | Anthony returned to his fort after confirming the |
| Stigmata (the mark of Christ's fivewounds) on his | | | | followers in Fayyum in the Christianfaith. He wanted |
| own body. He died in 1226 at age 45 and is enshrined | | | | to be in isolation again, but people kept seeking his |
| in the basilica of | | | | counsel, including |
| Assisi bearing his name...although he would much have | | | | Emperor Constantine. Anthony did write Emperor |
| preferred a pauper's grave. He isconsidered to be the | | | | Constantine a letter blessing him, andpraying for the |
| founder of all Franciscan orders. | | | | peace and safety of the church and empire. Anthony |
| St. Dwynwen (Dwyn) of Tolentino-Patron Saint of | | | | realized that all ofthe visitors were keeping him away |
| Sick Animals: | | | | from his worship, so he traveled into the |
| Dwyn was a 5th century Welsh maiden from a | | | | innerwilderness of the eastern Desert of Egypt. |
| wealthyfamily. Her father was a Welsh Saint and king, | | | | When he found a spring of water and palmtrees, he |
| Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. Shehad her love | | | | decided to settle there. On occasion, he would go to |
| troubles, however. The story is that Dwyn fell madly | | | | the outskirts of the desertby the Nile to visit his |
| in love with a Welshprince named Maelon Dafodrill. A | | | | brethren and then return to his inner sanctuary. At |
| marriage was planned but it was not to be. As St. | | | | hisrecommendation, all his followers took up |
| Dwyn distanced herself from Maelon, his bitterness | | | | mat-weaving and brush making so that idlehands |
| toward her became unbearable. | | | | would not be the devil's playmate. On this spot now |
| Heartbroken, Dwyn accepted a heavenly potion | | | | stands the Monastery of |
| offered to her by an Angel appearing toher in a | | | | Anthony the Great. |
| dream to soothe her heartache. However, the angel | | | | When Anthony determined that his day of departure |
| failed to tell her the effect ofthe potion on Maelon, | | | | had come, he gave away hisbelongings and stretched |
| who was turned into stone (or ice according to other | | | | out on the ground and gave up his spirit. He |
| accounts)once administered to him. Appalled, Dwyn | | | | instructed two ofhis brethren to bury him secretly, |
| requested and was granted three wishes fromthe | | | | and to this day, the grave-site is unknown. The |
| angel: | | | | yearwas 356 and he was 105 years old. Many |
| That Maelon be restored to life | | | | miracles are attributed to this religious father. |
| That all True Lovers that invoke her name either | | | | In Christian Iconography, Anthony is portrayed by |
| achieve their heart's desires orrecover quickly from | | | | the smallest bell in the carillon andthe smallest pig in a |
| disappointment | | | | litter....referred to as Tantony. |
| That she not marry or wish to | | | | His biography can be found in the book entitled Life |
| Dwyn committed her life to God and founded a | | | | of Saint Anthony the Great writtenby St. Athanasius. |
| convent on what is now Llanddwynisland, just off | | | | Many stories are also told of him in various collections |
| the Isle of Angeles. Within that Abbess, there is a | | | | of sayings onthe Desert Fathers. |
| miraculous spring | | | | These four saints are those who protect dogs, |
| (Ffynnon Dwynwen) wherein, from the movement | | | | healthy and afflicted. It is good to knowthat these |
| of the fish, the adept can tell thefuture. One other | | | | giving creatures are cared for in a heavenly way. I |
| interesting fact, the water works wonders with sick | | | | hope you enjoyed thisinformation! |
| animals. Over time | | | | References: |
| Dwyn's name was invoked to heal sick and | | | | 1) Saints Preserve Us! (Book) |
| distressed animals, a tradition that hassurvived even | | | | Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rogers |
| today. | | | | Copyright 1993 |
| The ruins of Llanddwyn chapel, a 16th century Tudor | | | | 2) St. Francis of Assisi (Article) |
| church, can still be seen. | | | | Terry Matz for Catholic Online ( |
| Moreover, her name lives on in the town of | | | | Copyright 1996-2000 |
| Porthddwyn and a church dedicated to hercan be | | | | 3) St. Roch (Article) |
| found in Cornwall. | | | | Catholic Encyclopedia ( |
| St. Roch- Patron Saint of Dog Lovers: | | | | No author cited |
| St. Roch was a French Saint born in 1293. He enjoyed | | | | 4) St. Dwynwen (Article) |
| a wealthy and privileged youth asthe son of the | | | | No author cited |
| governor of Montpellier. However, he was orphaned | | | | 5) St. |