You may have noticed that a number of parishes in our Diocese held a ‘Blessing of the Animals’ service a week ago, on or around St Francis’ Day… yet, St. James’ will have ours at the end of the Mass this week.
Why, you may ask?
There is no deep theological reason, I’m afraid – merely a practical one! Most of our congregation do not live in the neighbourhood, so holding a weekday service would leave many people out, and as we celebrate our Dedication Feast on the first Sunday of October, we have instead (for the past few years) had our animal blessing on Thanksgiving Sunday.
Still, it is no accident nor loss that we do it on this day. It seems fitting that as we give thanks for our family, friends, the abundance of the earth, and the blessings we enjoy from God, that we should also give thanks for our animal companions! For many of us, the animals we live with share our lives in a deep way – they become part of our family and woven into the fabric of our daily lives. It is hard to imagine life without them: they make us laugh, bring us joy, are there for us when times are tough, love us in ways we sometimes don’t deserve, and model an innocence, trust, and purity of being that we could learn much from.
I have often said that the way I look at my beloved calicoes is how I like to imagine God looks at us: with wonder, love, and a fierce protectiveness that deeply desires the best for them, and appreciates them simply for being exactly how they were created to be.
So, whether you are able to bring your pet for a blessing this week or not, I hope you’ll join with me in saying a prayer of thanksgiving for the animal companions in our lives, and perhaps seeing anew, a glimpse of how much God loves you, through your love for those special family members.
Mother Amanda