Calvary Episcopal’s Blessing of the Animals is a Reminder of the Message of Love Between Us, Them, and Our Maker

One day after World Animal Day, October 4, on Saturday, October 5, the annual Blessing of the Animals at Calvary Episcopal Church took place in the church parking lot just off 2nd Street between Royal and Virginia Avenues in the Town of Front Royal, Virginia. We note that an online reference to World Animal Day pointed out that a recent survey estimated that there are one billion pets in the world, mostly dogs and cats, and that pet owners are becoming “increasingly attached to their furry friends.”

Under the auspices of The Reverend Valerie Hayes the blessing was received by slightly less than a billion pets, with five dogs and their owners on hand, to acknowledge the importance of the relationship of humans and their animal friends.

Rev. Hayes opens the Blessing of the Animals with an acknowledgement of the role of St. Francis in passing the message of the Lord forward and of Genesis’s words referencing the creation of all life on the planet. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

True lovers of animals may look to the example of St. Francis and the Biblical words in Genesis for a more humane perspective and acknowledgement of the role of pets in our lives than some political cynics may have.

And those Biblical words and St. Francis’s role in encouraging our positive interaction, not only with our pets, but with animal life in general put here by our Creator, were an integral part of Saturday’s Blessing of the Animals.

Present to hear those words with their loving owners were five representatives of the canine community: Molly, a Hound-Lab mix; Red, a Belgian Malamute; Tuck, an Australian Shepherd; and Domino and Mick, two cute, smaller dogs we did not get the breeds of.

Reverend Hayes Blessing of the Animals referenced Saint Francis’s example — and we imagine one might repeat it to their pets who missed the ceremony, to give them a late acknowledgment that they too, are blessed by their loving owners, as we are blessed by them:

“Almighty God, creator of all things and giver of all life: let your blessing be upon these animals. May our relationships with them mirror your love, and let our care for them be an example of your bountiful mercy. Grant these, our animal companions, health and safety and peace. Strengthen us to love all of God’s creation and creatures as did his servant, Francis.”

Rev. Hayes, center-left by Molly, begins the event’s closing ‘Prayer of St. Francis’s incisive description of a well-led human life recited in unison by the humans present. Below, the now-blessed animals realize there are treats available for all participants as the Reverend approaches Red with some of those treats.

And what was read in unison by all the humans present to close the blessing ceremony was “The Prayer of Saint Francis” which gave an outline for our relationships, not only to our pets, but to our fellow humans:

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

“Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

“Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

“For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”

And an Amen to that; and a thank you to Reverend Hayes and Calvary Episcopal Church for this annual reminder of the importance of our relationship, not only to our beloved pets, but to each other near and far.

Tuck, at right, was ready to become the first blessed as Molly may be realizing she’ll be last as the blessing circle moved clockwise — ‘But that means I’m closest to the treats, right?’ Molly may have been thinking. Below, in turn, Red, Domino and Mick, and finally Molly receive their blessings.