Animals – and Insects – Blessed in Front Royal Church Outdoor Ceremony

The Rev. Valerie Hayes of Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Front Royal conducted a “St. Francis Blessing of the Animals” ceremony in the church’s parking lot, attracting some 20 dogs, one cat, and, for the first time at this annual event, two bees!

Owners and the animals gathered on the lot late Saturday afternoon, October 7, for the annual ceremonial at which Hayes, rector of Calvary Episcopal, officiated at the annual ceremony to which both parishioners and the public were invited with their pets.

It was a nice Autumn setting for the annual Calvary Episcopal Church St. Francis Blessing of the Animals ceremony in the church parking lot. Below, Rev. Valerie Hayes reads the blessing prayer to set the ceremony into motion. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini except where otherwise noted.

The honey bees, a recently beleaguered animal due to climate change, among other things, buzzed around in a jar during the blessing, later to be released to take their blessings to town and county hives in the area (see additional photos at end of story).

Hayes was accompanied at the event by her husband, Jim Wolfe, who had in hand the couple’s two dogs, Max and Molly.

The lone cat, named Colonel Mosby, was accompanied by his owners, Michael Marin and Clarke Cooper. Among the dogs’ owners, Corie Silcox presented Leo and Annie, who were individually sprinkled with water as Hayes recited the blessing as she passed among all of the pets after reciting a prayer that included the phrase “Gracious God … bless us in our care for our pets and animals, and bless them as your own creation … protect your creatures and guard them from all evil, now and forever.”

One of the smaller canines present discovers ‘someone’ about his size in the lone cat carrier on the scene during the pre-ceremony greetings. Below, in a photo by Melissa Chapman, Michael Marin and Clark Cooper present Colonel Mosby, their black cat, to the Rev. Hayes.

As she sprinkled the holy water on each owner and their animal, accompanied by barks and yelps, she intoned: “May you be blessed in the name of God who created you, and may you … enjoy life together with our God.”

Among church members and members of the public invited to participate in the ceremony was Melissa Chapman, owner of Luna, a sister of Hayes’ dog, Molly; Linda Litchfield, a U.S. Army veteran senior NCO, with rescue dog Gretchen; Patti Jones with 13-year-old Lulu; Caitlin Howarth with Shelties Archie, Bear and Coco, and others who all were invited to a table laden with dog and kitty bags of treats to take home for the animals.

Hayes said the St. Francis Blessing of the Animals dates back to George Washington’s era when the former president introduced a camel among his animals at his Mount Vernon home in Virginia.

In another Melissa Chapman photo, Rev. Hayes prepares to bless one of the dogs with holy water as its pal waits its turn. Below, all animals great and small, real and not-so-real if you count this child’s favored cartoon character presented for inclusion in the ceremony.

But Mom, I want to play with them now – the real animals are blessed, too.

Rev. Hayes prepares to bless these Shelties and pal gatherings with a little help from their friends. – Courtesy Photo Melissa Chapman – And below, the reverend gets an appreciative Sheltie nose bump.

Different dogs found different means of transportation as the Blessing Ceremony approached. Below, Jim Wolfe with Molly left, and Max, the latter, settled down a bit from his sometimes frantic socializing.

Even bees from a nearby honey-producing hive received a blessing, as several of the bees were brought to the ceremony to carry the St. Francis blessing back to the hives.

The blessing tables’ assortment of accompanying doggy and kitty treats was a pre-and-post-ceremony point of interest. Post-ceremony, with the assistance of their owners, the blessed animals received treats to commemorate their participation in the ceremony, acknowledging not only St. Francis’ but also their Makers’ love of all his creatures.