We celebrated Blessing of the Animals
Thank you to all who joined us for a special Blessing of the Animals family service in which we celebrated the feast of Francis of Assisi, his love for the natural world, and especially for animals.
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Blessing of Animals Service Leaflet
DID YOU KNOW?
Born into a prosperous family in the late twelfth century, Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone initially lived the life typical of a wealthy young man of his time. Experience of war, being a war prisoner, and illness, however, forced him to re-evaluate his life and start a spiritual journey that would lead to his becoming St. Francis of Assisi.
The key to many stories about his life is his love of the natural world, especially animals. To mark his feast day, it became a tradition for people to bring their pets and animals to be blessed.
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In 1979, Pope John Paul II declared St. Francis of Assisi the patron saint of ecology.
He would later write that Francis “invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honour and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples.”
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In 1931, October 4th – the feast of St. Francis of Assisi – was declared World Animal Day at a meeting of the International Animal Protection Congress.
The annual event aims to improve the welfare of animals around the globe.
