Brother Luke with Rosie

October 4: St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, patron saint of animals and nature, is commemorated on this day, which is also "World Animal Day". According to tradition, the saint understood the language of animals, and one of his most popular depictions in art is when he is preaching to animals.

The idea for Animal Day came from German writer Heinrich Zimmermann, who organized the first such event in Berlin on March 24, 1925. The date of the commemoration was changed to October 4 in 1929. Zimmermann's proposal to make the initiative an international world day was unanimously accepted in 1931, and it has been celebrated worldwide on this day ever since.

"Have you ever thought about how fantastic it is that animals can be our companions? Although we don't speak the same language, we are able to find a common voice. In fact, sometimes these bonds are even deeper than those we form with other people." Maybell Eequay

To mark the occasion, we have selected the best photos of Rosie, the Jack Russell terrier belonging to the Irish Alexian community.

 Rosie, Sheila and Brother Dermot