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‘Cat in the Stacks: Saint Francis of Assisi

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I’m Michelle Callaghan, a second-year graduate student at Villanova University. This is our column, “‘Cat in the Stacks.” I’m the ‘cat. Falvey Memorial Library is the stacks. I’ll be posting about living that scholarly life, from research to study habits to embracing your inner-geek, and how the library community might aid you in all of it.


 

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis took the name of Saint Francis of Assisi, “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.” Since he’s the patron saint of animals and the environment and I’m particularly fond of the nonhuman world, I’ve got a soft spot for St. Francis – as many do, considering he is known as “one of the most venerated religious figures in history”. St. Francis believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. He called all creatures his ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ and even preached to the birds.” 

Perhaps you are thinking this post is really just an excuse to post nature and animal pictures, and perhaps you are right. But I promise I do it with good intent – it feels important to put some ecological awareness into your heart on this papal week. Pope Francis acknowledges “we don’t have such a good relationship” with the created world, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

 “We are not God. The Earth was here before us and was given to us.” – Pope Francis

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Article by Michelle Callaghan, graduate assistant on the Communication and Service Promotion team. She is currently pursuing her MA in English at Villanova University.


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Last Modified: September 24, 2015

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