{"product_id":"saint-francis-of-assisi-catholic-8-plush-doll-patron-of-animals","title":"Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic 8\" Plush Doll — Patron of Animals","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSAINT FRANCIS\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Francis was born around 1181 in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy merchant family. After a youth of\nprivilege and a transformative experience during illness, Francis renounced his inheritance to embrace radical\npoverty and service to the poor. He founded the Franciscan Order, rebuilt crumbling churches, and preached to\nall of creation — including, famously, the birds. Francis received the stigmata in 1224 and died in 1226,\nhaving transformed the Church through his joyful witness to the Gospel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Francis teaches us the virtues of \u003cb\u003esimplicity, humility, and care for all creation\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFeast Day: October 4 | Patron of Animals and Ecology\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRead more about \u003ca href=\"[BLOG-URL-TBD]\"\u003eSaint Francis of Assisi, the saint who preached to the birds,\nand why children love him best →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWHAT MAKES HIM SPECIAL\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSAINT FRANCIS is hand-designed by Little Drops of Water and crafted in soft, cuddle-ready fabric. He wears\nthe brown Franciscan habit tied with a knotted cord, a little bird nestled in his hands — the saint who\npreached to the creatures of the air. At about 8 inches tall, he is sized to be carried through the day, tucked\ninto bed at night, and hugged as often as a child likes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Catholic Plush Doll from Little Drops of Water is hand-designed and made to be loved — soft to hold,\nwith embroidered features and no hard pieces, so a child’s first encounter with a saint is something gentle,\nhuggable, and entirely their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA REFLECTION\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint Francis saw God in every creature and called the birds his brothers. Of all the saints, he is perhaps\nthe easiest for a child to love — gentle, joyful, and surrounded by animals. This soft Francis carries that joy\ninto a child’s arms, a companion for the little one who loves every living thing, and a first lesson in caring\nfor the world God made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePERFECT FOR THE FAMILIES\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA keepsake gift for:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eBaptism\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Communion\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003eConfirmation\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA gift for a child who \u003cstrong\u003eloves animals\u003c\/strong\u003e or a home welcoming a \u003cstrong\u003enew pet\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003efeast of Saint Francis (October 4)\u003c\/strong\u003e or a \u003cstrong\u003eblessing of the animals\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA keepsake for a family named or devoted to \u003cstrong\u003eFrancis\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChristmas\u003c\/strong\u003e or a \u003cstrong\u003ehousewarming\u003c\/strong\u003e blessing for a new home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere he belongs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe is at home in a child’s arms first of all — on the pillow at bedtime, in the car seat on a long drive, in\na backpack on the first day of school, or beside a crib as a soft first patron. He also pairs with our \u003ca href=\"[STATUE-URL-TBD]\"\u003eSaint Francis Miniature Saint Statue\u003c\/a\u003e for the family altar or shelf, and with the\nfree \u003ca href=\"[COLORING-URL-TBD]\"\u003eSaint Francis coloring page\u003c\/a\u003e included with every order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"[COLLECTION-URL-TBD]\"\u003eCatholic Plush Dolls\u003c\/a\u003e collection to find him among the\nsaints and Marian devotions made soft for little hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCare Instructions: Spot-clean gently with mild soap and water. Designed with love by Little Drops of\nWater® — praying for world peace.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little Drops of Water","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48977737580729,"sku":"940222","price":24.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0647\/9177\/3369\/files\/little-drops-of-water-plushie-st-francis-plushie-1179487646.webp?v=1787620657","url":"https:\/\/catholicshop.com\/products\/saint-francis-of-assisi-catholic-8-plush-doll-patron-of-animals","provider":"CatholicShop.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}