Have you gotten your pets blessed this month?

We celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, but did you also know there is a tradition of blessing the animals connected to this feast? Perhaps this is already a tradition in your church and your lucky pet was there for the blessing. Typically, the ceremony happens on or close to the saint’s feast day, but could really happen any time. It can occur inside or outside, any place where people are able to bring their pets, and small livestock. One I suppose could even haul a couple of cows or horses to church, but I would recommend just inviting the priest out to your property for the larger animals.

The blessing of the animals is an old Catholic tradition dating back to the time of St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226). St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy. Because he was the son of a rich cloth merchant, his early life was one of privilege. He grew up and became a soldier like most young men in his town. At one point during a battle with the neighboring town, he was wounded and captured by the enemy. They kept him in prison for a year before releasing him back to his family. However, by then his former lifestyle had no appeal to him. This new disposition is what started his search for God and looking for answers in his life. One day while praying in front of a crucifix—which today is called the San Damiano cross and can be seen in Assisi—he heard the voice of God who said, “Go repair my church which is falling in ruin.” He thought God was telling him to physically restore the old church, which needed much repair. He later realized it meant much more than that. There was much corruption in the church and a lack of zeal among Christians. So eventually, after the physical repairs were done, Francis discerned that God was calling him to leave all his earthy possessions, live a life of poverty for God, and serve others. Soon others started following him and a new religious order was born, the Franciscans.

St. Francis had a great love of animals. One story relates the tale of the wolf who terrorized the city’s people to the point where they would not leave out of the city gate because the wolf would lie in wait to harm them. St. Francis approached the wolf, made the sign of the cross, and commanded the wolf to cease attacks on the people in the name of God. The wolf bowed its head at St. Francis’ feet and began to follow him around like a tame dog. The people so loved this wolf that they gave it an honorable burial and later a church was built by the site. In 1872 excavations at the sight found the skeleton remains of a wolf several centuries old. In another story, St. Francis came upon a flock of birds and decided to preach to them about God’s glory. He walked among the birds, preaching to them even brushing his tunic against them, yet none of the birds departed until his speech was over and a blessing was given.

It is for these reasons that he is often invoked for the care of animals. There is a special blessing for animals found in the Book of Blessings that beautifully invokes God’s blessings on these living creatures for all our needs.