October 4 is the feast of St. Francis, patron of San Francisco.

The Italian saint, who founded an order whose members still vow a life of poverty and dress in brown monastic habits, is celebrated in Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches in San Francisco. The latter denomination operates the National Shrine of St. Francis, a gorgeously refurbished church in North Beach. The Franciscans also operate St. Boniface Church in the Tenderloin, where they let the homeless sleep in the pews all day, as well as St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

Illustration: St. Francis preaches to the birds. (He felt no one else was paying attention.)