St Francis Day Animal Blessings
Among other things, St. Francis is known for having had a unique and profound relationship with nature, seeing all of creation—sun, moon, animals, and even death—as brothers and sisters. His “Canticle of the Creatures” is a testament to his spiritual appreciation with the natural world. Because of this, he is recognized as the patron saint of ecology and is often illustrated with a variety of animals surrounding him.
Each October on St. Francis Sunday, we offer a “Blessing of the Animals” in which anyone in the community can bring their (well behaved) pet to our church for a formal blessing from Father Steve. Pets have ranged from guinea pigs to dogs. If pets are unable to be present, people are welcome to bring in a photo of them to receive a distance blessing.
