October means it's Blessing of the Animals season again. Churches all around the world conduct the service where owners bring their pets to church for a blessing. He's a photo from a previous service I attended. No, I'm not in the photo - not even the one with the pink ribbon. This year's stories are featured in the Charleston Post and Courier and the Montgomery Advertiser. Monday, September 30, 2013
Blessing of the Animals
October means it's Blessing of the Animals season again. Churches all around the world conduct the service where owners bring their pets to church for a blessing. He's a photo from a previous service I attended. No, I'm not in the photo - not even the one with the pink ribbon. This year's stories are featured in the Charleston Post and Courier and the Montgomery Advertiser. 
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Thank you so much for posting this piece about our animals, it made me laugh and cry. Many people (humans) seem to have the impression we "own" our pets but IMO quite the opposite is true - THEY graces us with their presence. Although they cannot speak with words, they do speak volumes when they lavish hugs and kisses upon us when we feed them, give them a treat or just sit with them.
Animals also "pass the word" about whose house the "homeless" should visit for a meal, a hug, a treat - I know that is what happens as we have 4 rescue dogs, 2 of which just showed up in OUR front yard and numerous kitties we had never seen before! One kitty showed up and had her kittens (we found homes for the kittens and got mom spade) the next thing we knew there were 2 more "moms" having kittens in our garage!!! Again, found homes for the kittens and will be getting the moms spade. Animals KNOW who cares and who does not.
Thank you again for this wonderful blessing of the animals.
Always thought it interesting that Dog was an anagram of God!
No matter how bad my day was, my little one's are always there when I come home with unconditional love and companionship... yes...bless the animals.
I'm not much for organized religion, but who can't like St. Francis?
In fact, I'm enough of a heathen (although raised as Episcopalian) that I didn't know that churches blessed animals. My dog would do well, as she is friend to all creatures, but I shudder to think what my cat would do. Whenever he sees his cat carrier he lets out an unending wail of protest.
If that was compounded by being brought to a place stuffed with DOGS? God in heaven. Damien, shrieking his brains out at Gregory Peck as he toted the spawn Satan into the Cathedral comes to mind.
But this was a very fun story, and I enjoyed it immensely.
This happens in UK too though I've never attended such a service - we have too many lively animals! Your research was most interesting - I liked the child who said that the pet fish had taught him how to swim with his eyes open!
I love this post, and the acknowledgement of how richly animals truly bless our lives. (Though I hope those entering the pews came equipped with nappies - er, diapers? to save any blushes.)
My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you... you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore... always seek to praise God.
I have to admit, I enjoyed a chuckle or two while reading this post. Some of the quotes were really funny. Seriously, though, I've never heard of this. I'm not Catholic, but I have plenty of friends who are. None of them have ever mentioned this day. Very interesting, though. I do love animals, and God created them for our benefit, right? We should be more thankful for them. So, here's to Blessing of the Animals!
Oh, I absolutely loved this post on such a refreshing topic! I never imagined a church opening it's doors to 40+ animals that way but I love that they do. Thanks for sharing this with us! Also, thanks for your recent comment on my blog. You brought up Pepto Bismol, which I absolutely love! :)
I had a friend at work who's wife died a few years ago and he had her memorial at a church in Kowaliga where they had a "Blessing of the Animals".
She loved animals and volunteered much time to the Elmore Animal Shelter. Good post
I wonder what my rabbit would have thought about such a service? Dare say he might have hidden under something too, at the thought of a snakey neighbour!
Lovely idea.
Maggie x
Nuts in May
I'm just trying to imaging what it might be like to sit there with two cats, an African Grey Parrot, a Jack Russell Terrier and a couple of raccoons - all part of my extended family. Great post, Nick. I do believe we're all connected.. animals.. nature.. life.
Wonderful story.Thanks for sharing it.As the caretakers of 4 rescue dogs and a colony of feral cats, whom we've been caring for nearly 14 years
now, can certainly attest to the fact that animals deserve blessing, often more so then humans. ;-)
I never knew that churches blessed animals, but I guess it's a natural thing to do since we love our pets like they were family. Nice post, I learned a lot.
I took my pet rabbit, Penelope, to be blessed many years ago. It was very moving to feel the love around us all.
I love this account you've written!
I'm wondering if this is something new? I hadn't heard of it until a Catholic Church in our area 'advertised' it about 3 years ago.
Did you see Oprah, yesterday--a tribute to animals?
BTW, this insightful piece reminds me of the tribute
you gave to Tony Curtis several, several weeks ago.
Great Job, Blessings!
Great post! We have a Greek church near us and they bless the animals each yeat. I enjoyed reading the comments from the research you did.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and the wild, crazy comments! :)
12 years of Catholic School and I missed this one--do the animals have to genuflect?
nice blog, please visit my blog too ...
I love this ceremony, and I think animals DO worship God--in thier love for us, they are telling God "Thank you!"
I appreciate the time you took to research this and share it with us, Nick.
Blessings on you,
Jen
Marvelous piece (and well-written, of course.)
I would suggest that perhaps the Protestant minister who did not have animals behave should consider that it was the Catholic priest who did have them behave, and then consider why that may have been, but as an ex-Catholic myself, I don't want to suggest... well, let's skip it.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I enjoyed yours also. Our church holds a blessing of the animals each year. My 99 year old friend makes a special point of attending that day she enjoys it so much. loving life, I guess.
Oh, this one is hillarious too! Love the part about Elvis the hamster and the well contented snake!
Jane
Nick,
Interesting post on the animals! I was unaware of this celebration. I'm a cat owner so I had interest as I read.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment on Wait; and thanks for the trivia. Very cool!
Be refreshed,
Dawn
Just popped back in to let you know that I gave you one of my weekly awards for this post!
You can collect it anytime you like.
What a lovely idea. I wonder if there any churches in the UK that hold such services.
I went to a church that did this and it was so fun to see all the animals getting blessed. at the time we only had a goldfish and thought it better to leave it at home!LOL
Blessings, Joanne
I've always loved these sorts of services. I never took a pet of mine to one - the advent of them, in a very popular sense, postdated most of my pets - but I think they're a marvelous idea.
We have a pet blessing at our Parish too. I've never taken Buzi, my cat, because she howls like a coyote when she's in her cat carrier.
I think Pet Blessings are a really nice idea.
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