The Blessing of the Animals service is conducted annually in remembrance of St. Francis of the Assisi’s love for all creatures on the weekend closest to Oct. 4.
St. Francis was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. At an early age, he showed concern for the poor. He turned to a spiritual life after serving in the military and surviving a serious illness, and being a prisoner of war. The Lord had saved him to carry out a definite mission in his life.
He was a humble man, he loved God’s creatures. He loved birds and beasts. He loved the depressed and outcasts. He treated the birds and beasts and all beings as brothers and sisters. He went from village to village preaching the love of God. He invited people to join him in his life of service, giving up their wealth at the altar of God.
The kindness and love of Francis spread all over Europe and earned him the name of St. Francis. He had many followers and founded the Order of Franciscans. People called him the little poor man of Assisi. He spent his final years in pain and blindness and died at the young age of 44.
This is why we offer the service of thanksgiving and blessing for our friends and companions. The bond between a person and their pet is like no other relationship because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Please bring your pets to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 1801 Corning on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. If you can’t bring your pet, bring a picture so they can be blessed, too.
Blessing certificates will be provided and refreshments served.
Prayer attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. — Amen.
Very Rev. Sharon Billman,
St. John’s Episcopal Church
