Patron of Christian saints Dogs
I have always loved animals, especially dogs. I had four dogs in my life and each of them brought a different strength to my life … not even mention the unconditional love. If humans are like dogs, the world would be a much better place.
With this in mind, I began wondering if he had guardian angels looking dogs on them. While I was sure that if they did, I wanted to know if there were any Saints, as recognized by the Catholic Church, especially with the help of dogs. Here is what I found:
St. Francis of Assisi, Patron of animals:
Born in northern Italy (in Assisi in Umbria) in 1181 and named Giovanni (John) after John the Baptist, the saint began life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Pietro Bernadone. Johns father was French and as such it dubbed Francesco (Francis), the little French. As a youth, Francis was extravagant, carefree, and loved by all. It was a natural leader, while growing up became the leader of a group of youths who spent their nights at parties and who were accustomed to vice.
Francis wanted to be a gentleman. He earned his chance when Assisi declared war on its long-time enemy, Perugia. Most of the troops from Assisi died in the fighting, however, Francis was taken prisoner (because of their wealth), held for ransom. After a year in the dungeon in Perugia, Francis was paid ransom and was released. Still wanting to be a gentleman with all of the glory attached to that title, an appeal to the knights of the Fourth Crusade gave him a chance for his dream. It adapts with a suit of armor decorated with gold, and he bragged that return a prince. But within a day's walk Assisi had a dream in which God told him to return home, and despite the humiliation of the people who did come home. But Francis did not change overnight. He did start to spend more time in prayer, went to a cave and wept for their sins. However, it remains a business to run … he could not give himself over completely to God.
However, in a pilgrimage to Rome, everything changed. He renounced his wealth and became a beggar dress attire and went to the suffering of the Black Death.
After the pilgrimage to Rome at the age of 26 years, while prayer in a chapel of San Damiano which had fallen into ruin, he heard an image of Christ being told to repair my last house. Francis took this literally and began the necessary repairs to the small chapel. However, Francisco had no money of their own and what they pay for the restoration, stole the bolts of cloth from his store with their parents. This angered his father that he threw Francisco out of the house and disinherited him. This was a turning point and a time for the release of Francisco and spent the rest of his life with emphasis on poverty, humility and discipline. Within 15 years, Francis was the leader of the Friars Minor 5000 (Order monk) and an increasing order of nuns, Sisters Clarisas.
Francis is remembered not as a religious organization, but as a charismatic and such a compassionate heart for the unusual. It is believed that he preached sermons to birds and entered into a peace treaty with a wolf for the wolf no longer terrorize the people. In 1224, he was awarded the Stigmata (the mark of five wounds Christ) on his body. He died in 1226 after 45 years and is enshrined in the basilica of Assisi, which bears his name … although it would be much poorer have preferred a tomb. He is considered the founder of all Franciscan orders.
San Dwynwen (Dwyn) de Tolentino, patron saint of sick animals:
Dwyn was a 5th century Welsh maiden of a rich family. His father was a Welsh saint and king, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. She had her love problems, however. The story is that Dwyn fell crazy in love with a Welsh prince named Maelon Dafodrill. A marriage was planned, but has not been. In San Dwyn shunned Maelon, his bitterness toward her became unbearable. Heart Dwyn accepted a heavenly potion given to her by an angel who appears to her in a dream to calm her anxiety. But the angel did not tell the effect of the potion Maelon, which became a rock (or ice, depending on other accounts) administered once to him. Dismayed, Dwyn requested and was granted three wishes of the angel: Maelon be restored to life True lovers all who invoke his name, either to achieve their hearts desires or recover quickly from the disappointment did not wish to marry or Dwyn committed his life to God and founded a monastery in what is now Llanddwyn island, just off the Island of Angels. Within this abbess, a miraculous spring (Ffynnon Dwynwen), which, from the movement of fish, the expert can tell the future. Another interesting fact, water works wonders with sick animals. Over time Dwyns name was invoked to heal the sick and distressed animals, a tradition that has survived until today.
Llanddwyn the ruins of the chapel, a 16th century Tudor church, can still be seen. Moreover, his name lives on in the city of Porthddwyn and a church dedicated to her can be found in Cornwall.
San Roque, patron saint of lovers of dogs:
San Roque was born in a French Saint 1293. He enjoyed a rich and privileged young son of the governor of Montpellier. However, was orphaned at 20 and decided to give all his possessions to the poor and gave the city government to his uncle. He then began a pilgrimage to Rome disguised as a mendicant pilgrim in which fed the victims of the plague / Black Death, where he was often successful in miraculous results with these victims.
Roch became infected with the plague himself and stopped in Piacenza his ministry, as I knew it would be contagious to others. It was in the forest to die alone, but a friend of a dog (and later the teacher) to provide food snatched from his teachers (Gothard) table. Roch eventually recovered, thanks to nutrition and offered by the company's dog and his master and he decided to return to Montpellier. Due to his illness, no one recognized it and was thrown into a dungeon because it is thought that a spy. Roch died there at age 32 years after 5 years in prison in 1327. Once dead, was finally recognized by a family member on an X-shaped birth of her mom and her family wept over his horrible death. He was given a public funeral and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.
In 1414, during the Council of Constance, the black plague was rampant, The Fathers of the Council ordered public prayers and processions in honor of San Roque and immediately the plague ceased. San Rochs relics were taken to Venice in 1485, where it is still venerated. Letters VSR (Viva San Roque), were registered more than once over the doors of Europe as a protection against the plague.
St. Anthony the Great, patron saint of domestic animals:
Anthony was born in Memphis, in Egypt, in 251 of wealthy parents. When I was 20 years old, his parents died and left him in the care of his unmarried sister. After hearing the words of Jesus instructing him to sell what you have and give to the poor as their reward would be treasures in heaven, who renounced his wealth to the poor and needy. He also placed his sister in the care of a group of Christian virgins, similar to a nunnery. He left Memphis in the desert living in a tomb and fight with the devil. The devil afflicted him boredom, laziness and the ghosts of women who overcame the power of prayer. He wore sackcloth and never washed his body or his feet and he spent his time in intense prayer. He attracted admirers from the local villages, providing food and water. Once again the devil played havoc with Anthony and made him unconscious after beating him mercilessly. When the locals found him in this condition, which led him to a church to provide a refuge for recovery.
Once recovered, he returned to his life as a hermit, living in an old abandoned fort for about 20 years. Communicated to the outside through a crack in the fortress in which food and water can be passed. He did not allow anyone to enter their cell-to which his lawyer requested heard from outside. The devil again began to torture Anthony, only this time the ghosts were in the form of wild beasts, lions, snakes and scorpions. Anthony but laugh at them, invoking the name of God and the ghosts that turn smoking.
Finally, he did leave the fortress with the help of villagers tearing down a wall. Although everyone expected it to be wasted or insane out of its isolation, which emerged healthy, serene and enlightened. Was hailed as a hero and his reputation began to spread. Anthony re-confirm their strength after the followers in Fayyum in the Christian faith. I wanted to be in isolation again, but people kept seeking his counsel, including the emperor Constantine. Anthony emperor Constantine did write a letter of blessing to him and praying for peace and security of church and empire. Antonio realized that all visitors were kept away from their religion, so they traveled in the desert of the eastern desert of Egypt. When he found a spring of water and palm trees, decided to settle there. Sometimes he would go to the outskirts of the desert by the Nile to visit his brothers and then return to his inner sanctum. In its recommendation, to all his followers took the fabric mat and brush so that no idle hands are the devils playground. This place is now the Monastery of the Great Antonio.
Anthony found that when their day of departure had arrived, their belongings and gave him stretched on the ground and gave up the ghost. Instructed two of his brothers to bury him in secret, until today, the site of graves is unknown. The year was 356 and was 105 years. Many miracles are attributed to this religious father.
In Christian iconography, is portrayed by Anthony bell carillon in the smallest and the smallest pig in a litter …. Tantony called.
His biography can be found in the book entitled The Life of the Great San Antonio written by St. Athanasius. Many stories are told of him in various collections of sayings of the Desert Fathers.
These four saints are those that protect the dogs, both healthy and affected. It's good to know that these creatures are cared for in a heavenly manner. I hope you enjoyed this information!
References:
1) Saints Preserve Us! (Book) Seán Kelly and Rosemary Rogers Copyright 1993 2) San Francisco de Asis (Article) Terry Matz for Catholic Online (http://www.catholic.org) Copyright 1996-2000 3) San Roque (Article) Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org) No author cited 4) San Dwynwen (Article) www.geocities.com No authors listed 5) San Antonio el Grande Wikipedia (http://www.en . wikipedia.org) No author cited Lynda M. Long (with references identified)
