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