Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
October 4
Francis was born at Assisi in 1181. His father was a wealthy cloth trader, and in the early days Francis wanted to join him in his business. In his younger days, St. Francis was spoiled, and indulged in fine food, wine, and wild celebrations. He had left school when he was 14 and became known as a rebellious teenager. In 1202, a war broke between Assisi and Perugia, and Francis took part. He was captured and put behind bars. He spent almost a year in prison, where he is said to begin receiving visions from God. In 1224, Francis received a vision that left him having wounds that resembled Jesus Christ’s wounds during crucifixion called the Stigmata. These wounds remained visible for the rest of his life. Francis of Assisi passed on October 3, 1226 in Assisi, Italy. He was 44. However, he left a spiritual legacy, which is followed by millions of followers across the globe. The Franciscan Order was founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi.
International Ship in a Bottle Day
October 4
Sailors on ships of all sizes and types have used scrap wood, cloth, and rope to make model or toy boats to pass long hours at sea. This model-making dates back perhaps 4,000 years. The merging of model ships with bottles is a much more recent development, due largely to the poor quality of early bottles. Models of human and heavenly figures were put in bottles as early as about 1750 and may have originated in monasteries, when, again, many quiet hours were available for crafts. When techniques of manufacturing glass improved, glass bottles were clearer, less distorted, and free of bubbles and heavy seams.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Charlton Heston – Actor – born in Wilmette, Illinois
Alicia Silverstone – Actress – born in San Francisco, California
