Nativity BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church 8530 West 131st-St Palos Park Illinois will be having a Pet Blessing this Sunday October 4 at 2:00 pm.

ALL GOD'S CREATURES WELCOME !

How sweet!

Though mine is only a 'parental' blessing, I do bless my little baby papillon often, as I did my other doggy in her life.

I'll try and post pictures tomorrow. It went quite well. 14 dogs, 2 cats, a goldfish, and a cat's ashes were blessed.

A very nice tradition on St Francis of Assisi's Day!

I've never heard of an EC parish doing this, but why not?

Some pet blessings on the east coast have been cancelled, as I understand, because it's been raining cats and dogs . . .

Alex

I don't know about the cat's ashes....hmmmm.....That would imply praying for its soul's salvation?

On the other hand, I do understand 'economia' for the sake of the living and grieving, but it doesn't do much for theological catechism does it?

Here's a shot of our Pet Blessing from the Palos Regional's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheRegiona...47./1104259152945166/?type=3&theater

Very, very nice!

Brings new meaning to "going to the dogs!"

That's my "pet peeve."

Alex

My humble belief is that GOD does NOT destroy a life he created. God did not destroy Satin. Therefore blessing an animal's ashes is fine.
Something would be missing if pets were not in heaven. So I believe pets live on.

It was just a case of someone showing up with there cat's ashes in an urn and getting blessed.

There can be appropriate ways to celebrate and commemorate a companion animal...

http://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/galleries/408637/%22IconoFan_2%22_at_St._#comments

One of the problems with a pet blessing is trying to find the best time to do it. Unfortunately some of our parishoners who live some distance away couldn't make 2 trips on a Sunday. That's why at least half the people who showed up were nearby residents. Maybe next year we'll try it on a Saturday and get a bigger turnout.

Could you share what the pet blessing prayers entailed (no pun intended)?

Was Saint Francis invoked?

Alex

A brief homily on the importance of pets in our lives. A recitation of the serenity prayer of St Francis, some short prayers for the blessing, and then the blessing itself. Everyone got a St Francis holy card (this one) http://www.bridgebuilding.com/narr/mi399.html and most of the pets were given treats.

Ah, how beautiful!

When my first Pomeranian, Poncie, died, an aunt sent me a St Francis prayer-card that depicted him holding a bird on his index finger as he fed it. The caption read, "Blessed art Thou, Lord, with all Thy creatures . . ."

It still makes tears well up in my eyes whenever I see it.

Alex

Here's where we got the idea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXx1Y5REc6w