The Blessing of the Pets
…or Why It’s Fun to Be Catholic.
Today, October 4th, is the Feast of St. Francis. It is a tradition in many parishes to have a blessing of the pets on this day. Last year we dragged the whole hermit crab terrarium to church to have all the crabs blessed. Now we’re down to only one crab, but Boo and Pumpkin Girl were anxious to have her blessed.
We almost didn’t make it, as Swirly the Crab was trying to dig herself into the sand and one should really leave burrowing crabs alone. It makes them crabby if you don’t. I checked her again right before we would have needed to leave and she was out, cruising around the tank. So I rounded up the children, put the crab into a plastic bowl and out the door we went.
Except for Swirly, all the other pets were dogs. Last year there were a couple of cats and a rabbit, too. Anyway, we said St. Francis’ prayer and listened to a reading from Genesis about God creating the animals. I had to smile at the mention of the “crawling things” as Swirly tried to get out of the bowl.
A little sprinkling of holy water and a quick prayer over each pet and we were done. They had treats for the dogs, but of course, they didn’t have any hermit crab snacks. Swirly was treated to some coconut when we got home.
As for why I refer to Swirly as a “she” – well, she’s the crab Pumpkin Girl picked out and everything Pumpkin owns is a girl. Of course.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I 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
