Getting to know the saints (St. Francis Assisi)

As a new Catholic convert, I initially found it amusing that we have to call on so many Saints during our prayers. My first experience was during my baptism in 2003. During the Easter Vigil, there were 9 readings of the Word of God and oh boy, can you imagine how lengthy that is? I had my 40+ days old baby with me who was due to be baptised along with me and my other three children.

Then, there was this prayer which we need to call on all the saints and the list was like two pages long. For a new convert, I was totally blurred why in the world do we need to mention all the names and I wonder who they are.

I guess my baptism was filled with more rituals than the rest because that was the first batch of people getting baptised in my church which was ‘elevated’ to a cathedral status that year.

Many years later, I still was puzzled with Catholics and their fondness of saints. I guess even non-Christians would have noted some of those classified ads they found in the newspapers on Prayers to St. Jude for prayers answered.

Having said that, there are people who really deviate to the level of ‘weirdness’ when they went too far with their adoration of saints. My parish priest had to leave notices in the chapel that no one is to photocopy 20 pieces of certain prayers and leave them all over the church as a vow. So, yeah, I don’t blame people who accuse us Catholics of ‘praying to dead people’ because sometimes, things are rather misleading.

However, there are a few saints’ life stories that had captured my interest. When I read about the Patron Saint of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Nick K (sorry I do not know how to spell his Thai name and I think Nick K sounds cool), I immediately feel a closeness to the person that he was. His example probably gave me that courage to be more vocal in political matters that encroached into my religious rights. When my heart tells me to just say what I feel strongly, I do not hesitate and feel oppressed. One of the example is when the religious department took away the body of an old gentleman and the family approached me to help them highlight the issue in my blog.

The other saint that has captured my interest is St. Francis Assisi. I do not know much about him but long time ago, my parish priest Father Stephen told us about how St. Francis Assisi once walked along the beach and throw back the starfishes that had been stranded when the seawater level went down. Someone asked him why he bothers because there are thousands of starfishes there. I do not remember how St. Francis Assisi replied but I do know that what matters is what we do for a one single person because that action leaves more impact than what we can do for thousands. Even as a newly convert then, I already knew St. Francis Assisi is someone that I wish to know more.

Today, I managed to borrow a book from Mt. Miriam Hospital library on St. Francis Assisi. I am indeed blessed to be able to know the Sisters from there. I pray that the Lord will grant me the wisdom to immerse myself into knowing St. Francis Assisi and hopefully, I could try to live by the example shown by St. Francis. By the way, I can sing St. Francis Assisi’s hymn, Make me a channel of Your peace pretty well. So, I have made tiny steps, no?