St. Francis of Assisi and his friend St. Clare (a young noble woman of Assisi) were practical mystics of their time in the 12th Century in Assisi, Italy. They both rejected the material lure of their parent's wealth, stripped themselves of the worldly things and created a new generation of followers of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Francis, born in 1182 during the time of the Crusades, had profound mystical experiences including receiving the stigmata (the five wounds of Christ) in 1224, four years before his death in 1228. He had a profound relationship with Nature, speaking to the animals, birds and plants, and is considered the patron saint of animals and the natural environment. He wrote the Canticle of the Sun where he mentioned the "Brother Sun" and "Sister Moon", the wind and water. 

Pope Francis, whose name-sake is St. Francis of Assisi, noted that St. Francis offer Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation ..." He went on to make the point that: "As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples."

Marilynn Hughes and I ponder the question "what would St. Francis (and St. Clare) say about the current state of the world and climate change?" How can we re-discover the wisdom of St. Francis who prayed 'make me a channel (instrument) of Your peace'? Like St. Francis, to seek a better world, to turn away from the glamour of materialism, and follow a path of love is possible; it is a choice we can all make.