Santo Stefano church, Assisi, Italy.

Legend has it that the bells of this simple church, built in the 12th century, rang spontaneously on October 3, 1226, when Assisi’s most famous son, Saint Francis, died.

Image by Chris Light

Along with Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Francis was designated Patron saint of Italy. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October.  Source

Link to: The Simple Prayer of St. Francis in English and Italian