Tis' the Season for Pet Blessings

September 27, 6:46 PMPet ExaminerCathy M. Rosenthal

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  A camel walks up the aisles at St. Divine Episcopal Church  
  in New York to receive a blessing.

  Dogs are the most popular animal at annual blessing
  events.

  Kids at the church wait patiently with a goldfish, chicken,
  and love bird.

Every fall, dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, even large animals, like camels and llamas, flock to local churches for the annual Blessing of the Animals, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a monk who lived more than 900 years ago and whose calling was to share an appreciation for all of creation.

Because St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, birds, and the environment, many churches hold ceremonies honoring animals between now and his feast day, which is October 4. (Perhaps you have seen his garden statue in someone’s yard.)

The largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, St. John Divine Episcopal Church in New York City, conducts perhaps the largest animal blessing anywhere. Since 1985, the church has opened its doors to large and small animals around the Feast of St. Francis, allowing them to sit in pews with their owners or stand in the aisles (if they are large animals, like horses) for a 90-minute service.

Do all the animals sit quietly in church? One church official said, “Actually, there’s really an amazing calm in the sanctuary considering all the feathers and fur in there.” 

If animals aren’t up for services, St. John Divine clergy are all over the grounds on their celebration day ready to bestow a blessing.

For the Franciscans, the Blessing of the Animals has been a traditional event for centuries. “For most people, the blessing is to ask God to watch over and take care of their critters, but there is a second component too," says Father Richard Juzix, OFM, of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Los Angeles, California. "The image for Franciscans is that all of creation wonderfully mirrors the goodness of God and we want to give thanks for that.”

Of course, the Blessing of the Animals offers some light-hearted moments as birds flap and squawk, dogs bark, and cats blink back in surprise as holy water sprinkles onto their heads. Father Richard recalls two little welsh horses that stood hip high and snorted and blew their noses onto his hand as he passed.

“Who knows,” he says laughing. “Maybe that's how they show deep gratitude.”