schedule in a blessing

Every year I miss the chance to attend this, and believe me, every living critter in my house needs all the help they can get.

Fall is coming - and that means so is time for the Blessing of the Animals, in which furry friends are carted off to church to be blessed and sprinkled with holy water. I have seen this in Catholic and Episcopalian churches.

Luckily, everybody usually behaves. And I have yet to see anybody poop on the holy carpets.

This blessing is done in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and his love of all creatures. It often goes something like this:

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish
in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis
to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By
the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always
praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in
all your creatures! Amen.

Learn a little more about this most charming blessing here.