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The Blessing of the Animals

Mary Witko | Catholic Herald

New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan lays a hand on Little Lowell, a rescued dog, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York Sept. 30. Cardinal Dolan was commemorating the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, by blessing shelter and rescued pets. The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is Oct. 4.

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Oct. 4 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint we
pet lovers turn to for help when the cat won’t stop coughing
up hairballs or the dog’s arthritis seems particularly
painful. It’s not that we think St. Francis can work magic –
magic has no place in a world where God’s power is
ever-present – but his gentleness with and kindness toward
all creatures great and small makes him the perfect
intercessor for our friends with furry legs, wings or fins.

Many churches in the Arlington Diocese will celebrate St.
Francis’ feast day with a Blessing of the Animals, an annual
bring-your-pet-to-the-church-but-make-sure-you-clean-up-after-it
festival. St. Charles in Clarendon and St. Francis of Assisi
in Triangle will do theirs on the actual feast day, Oct. 4;
St. Bernadette in Springfield will have one blessing on the
feast day, but will also bless pets of the school children
the day before. St. Ann in Arlington will combine their
blessing of the animals with a request for donations for the
Arlington Animal Welfare League.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan didn’t wait, but gave a
blessing to three dozen rescue animals outside St. Patrick’s
Cathedral Sept. 30.

It’s not hard to understand why the Blessing of the Animals
is so popular: We form a bond with our pets that is more
basic than almost any other relationship. They rely on us in
an intrinsic way, completely dependent upon us for their
sustenance and their happiness. They obey us without
question, and when they err, they return to us penitent,
eager for reconciliation with us. In a way, that bond
emulates the bond we should have with God, who is truly our
Lord and Master.

During the Blessing of the Animals, the celebrant prays the
following prayer:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures.
You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and
animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of
them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet.
By the power of your love, enable it to live according to
your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in
creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your
creatures. Amen.”

On this feast of St. Francis of Assisi, may we thank God for
blessing us with the companions we have adopted into our
homes and, with the same love and care that we show them, may
we love and care for each other.

Witko can be reached at [email protected].

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