Fall is a season that contains several of the most significant Jewish Holidays, which means that the attention of interfaith families is often focused on Judaism during this time. However, fall has two understated but really interesting Christian holidays, St. Francis Day and All Saints Day.
St. Francis’ Day is officially October 4th, but it is usually celebrated on the nearest Sunday – this year, October 2nd. Many churches — particularly Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches — celebrate St. Francis Day by blessing animals. Children are encouraged to bring their pets for a special blessing. The holiday honors St.Francis of Asissi, a monk who lived in Italy at the turn of the 13th century. Francis is known particularly for his work with the poor and his connection to animals.
“St. Francis and the Wolf,” perhaps the best known story of St. Francis, teaches both about the godliness of animals and about the capacity of all to repent and to forgive. In this story, a wolf who had been terrorizing a village was about to attack Francis when he made the “sign of the cross” toward it. The power of God caused the wolf to stop, and Francis explained to the wolf that he had been terrorizing and killing God’s creatures. Then, with the wolf at his side, Francis delivered a sermon on the wondrous and fearful love of God, calling the townspeople to repent from all their sins. Then he offered a plan for peace: the wolf would stop attacking and the townspeople would feed the wolf. The wolf lived peacefully among the townspeople thereafter as a living reminder of the wonders, patience, virtue, and holiness of St. Francis and of the power and providence of the living God.
All Saints Day is November 1st. Catholics venerate and pray through saints like Francis, asking for their intercession with God. Both Catholic and Episcopal denominations observe All Saints Day as a holy day of celebration and prayer in church, a day to honor all of God’s saints – all those whose lives have met the highest standards of holiness — even those who have not been officially recognized as saints by the church.
All Saints Day is a also a family day of celebration when people in many cultures celebrate the memory of those family members who have died and are now connected to the eternal mystery of God. (Some traditions also celebrate November 2nd – All Souls Day – as a day to remember family members who have died.)
All Saints Day is not widely celebrated, as the profound spiritual meaning of the day has been overshadowed by the fact that it follows the feast of “All Hallows Eve” (or All Saints Eve) which has morphed into our current custom of Halloween.
And though Jewish traditions do not emphasize the miracles or the veneration of saints, Jews will find familiar ideas in these Christian holidays. The story of St. Francis and the wolf resonates with the themes of repentance and forgiveness of the Jewish High Holidays. And the All Saints Day practice of remembering those who died will connect with the practice of visiting cemeteries between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as with the “Yizkor” memorial service on Yom Kippur.
Two Religions, One Family 