Let us all imagine when the Cross of San Damiano came alive and Jesus spoke to Francis, "Go and rebuild my Church, which as you can see is in ruins." how those words changed him...and should change us...His focus must have been like a magnetic compass locked in by Christ's edict which empowered his personal performance statement -

"Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace."

With Christ at the helm of this spiritual vessel and the Christocentic Team of Franciscan Brothers, Francis set out and changed the Church and the world forever. For his love and devotion to Christ, Francis was branded with the first earthly stigmata and awarded the title of St. Francis of Assisi.

MANY OF us characterizes that he is perhaps the closest human being on earth to mirror Jesus; and it is said that He appeals to just about every person and every aspect of humanity possible....and....in fact... to many of us -- He is the Gospel..too....

...When John Paul II outlined in his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, pp226,

"Thus the saints of every age are also an incarnation of the filial love of Christ, which is the source of a FRANCISCAN love for all creatures and also of love for the saving power of the Cross, which restores to the world the balance between good and evil." he reminded the world of Francis and His

FRANCISCAN LOVE FOR ALL CREATURES....

...This fortifies me, and as a simple Shepherd of a flock of sheep my secular franciscan journey of faith has led me into... finding the source of that Franciscan Love.....to..... The Animal Kingdom of God.....to Saint Francis... and to the love of the saving power of the Cross of Christ....you have now visited Shepherd Too now go and visit the homes of these FRANCISCANS----here

YOUR OWN SHEPHERD STORIES

We are simple Shepherds of a flock of three sheep, and also friends of St. Thomas's writings, and Franciscan and we are uneducated seculars just like the ignoramuses who asked St. Bonaventure

."When one thinks of the light that great doctors like you receive from Heaven, how do you expect ignoramuses like us to be saved?"

To which he replied, resoundingly.....

"all importantly one must love God for ultimate salvation...". ...therefore my secular franciscan journey of faith has led me into... ....finding the source of that Franciscan Love...