Blessing of the Animals?

I can tell it's been a busy week. Written on Sunday's bulletin, sitting next to the computer was a note I had forgotten. Fr. Daniel had said during the announcements Sunday that Wednesday, October 4th, will be the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. He was (if my memory is correct) considering holding a Blessing of the Animals, in this case a relatively short little service, but wondered when the best time would be. This is, of course, a significant issue for a fairly wide-spread parish in a region of bad traffic.

When he made the announcement my mind went back to my first experience with a Blessing of the Animals, at our church previous to St. Bartholomew's. A few months earlier we'd adopted a shepherd-mix puppy who had been terribly abused by a two-year-old (and likely a parent, we surmise from available evidence). The poor pup was terrified of everything that moved, and much that didn't. He was so fearful it took us three days to coax him to come inside the house.

Flash forward a few difficult months: Training him to walk on a leash was proving impossible. The instant the leash went on he was fighting it, alternately actively and passively. And although he absolutely loved to run and play at the ocean shore, I would have to chase him down and catch him to get him into the pickup truck for the trip over (and repeat much the same for the return trip).

So when it came to the Sunday for the Blessing of the Animals we figured he might do well with a blessing, though we were concerned about his reaction to the other pets and the leash he would have to wear.

Our concerns turned out to be absolutely groundless. As soon as I opened the gate to the yard he ran out and leaped into the truck bed all Eager TO GO!! I was stunned; I didn't know what to make of it (but I made sure he was secured anyway).

And when we got to church (instead of the beach) he simply allowed the leash to be attached and just ignored the other pets in the parking-lot service; being near us was all that seemed to matter that day.

He was a different, loving and accepting dog from that day on, and is remembered fondly by family to this day, so many years after his passing.

A Blessing for him, and to us all!

(And THAT finishes my notes from Sunday!)