Following the Lead of St. Francis

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI,(1182-226), is among the most cherished saints in Catholicism. Known as the patron saint of animals, because of his reputed ability to tame wild animals by merely being in their presence and his love of all animals, his contributions also include teaching the young to cherish the natural world in general, and an attempt, ultimately futile, to bring and end to the crusades and make peace between Islam and Christianity, lessons we could well draw from today. His feast is on October 4, as good a day as any to stroke the back of a sleeping cat while it lay in your lap, or, if nothing else, take your dog for a pleasant walk and to give him or her a tasty treat and cool dish of water thereafter. For St. Francis, every day was a good day to do these things. The following quote attributed to him, justifiably so because it appears in his hand writing, should hang on the walls and adorn the litter boxes of every cat lover. "A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world, as the vibrations you are receiving are of pure love and contentment." Millions of people, tens, hundreds of millions of people, right in your own neighborhood, could and would happily, eagerly attest to this. Modern scientific research confirms conclusively that the sound of a purring cat is among the most wonderful sounds in the universe, a fact with which billions would agree. In modern times, it is often said that one must never awaken a purring cat which lyeth upon thy lap. One must continue watching television, even if the television is tuned to a station which is selling Tupperware, and the remote control is barely out of the reach of one's hand, rather than awaken and discharge one's fuzzy kitten from one's warm lap. One must endure aching bowels, an exploding bladder, swollen ankles, bed sores, severe leg cramps, and even the beginnings of gangrene infection to ensure that the sleeping, purring kitten sleeping upon one's lap be not disturbed. The cat, who as we all know owns the human, shall arise and depart in due time. The decision belongs to the warm purring furry one, and is between cat and God. You, the sitting primate, a mere vehicle for feline comfort and safety, have no voice in the matter, nor should thee. This is not merely an ancient tradition, although it was observed in ancient Egypt and throughout the Islamic world today. This is incontrovertible modern American protocol in the land of the cat wise but otherwise asinine. The prophet Muhammad himself, like all enlightened persons, a lover of cats, reputedly severed the sleeve of his prayer garment upon which a cat lay asleep, rather than disturb the sleeping fuzzy one. Whether his religiosity is acceptable to you personally, this, dear friend, cat lover, and potential cat lover, is the essence of wisdom.