Today we honor František. Happy name day, František!
The name František is the Czech form of Francis (or it's short form, Frank). Francis is the English form of the late Latin name Franciscus, which meant "Frenchman". The name was borne by the 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi, who was originally named Giovanni but was given the nickname Francesco by his father, an admirer of the French. Francis went on to renounce his father's wealth and devote his life to the poor, founding the Franciscan order of friars. Later in his life he apparently received the stigmata.
He is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena), and its customary for Anglican and Roman Catholic churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4th.
