In a bit of a twist to the usual Thanksgiving sermon, churchgoers at St. Mary and St. George Anglican Church brought their pets with them on Sunday morning to be blessed by Rev. Keith Marsh, Oct. 9.
Although it might seem a bit odd, in the 13th century it became customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on Oct. 4 to celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi on his feast day.
鈥淎lthough we bless the pets, it鈥檚 really a recognition of how much our animals, indeed all of nature, contributes to our lives. So in this service we also commit to their care and preservation, knowing all of life is beneficially interlinked,鈥� said Marsh.
Saint Francis of Assisi was canonized on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX and became associated with the patronage of animals and the natural environment.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
