On October 3rd, a variety of wagging tails, flapping wings, and shiny scales filed into the Father Down Garden. Students brought in their pets, of all shapes and sizes, to get an annual blessing.
Blessing of the Animals is nothing new – it has been a tradition for 800 years. According to “Blessing of the Animals” by Get Ordained, the event dates back to the life of Saint Francis, from 1181 to 1226. Early in his ministry, walking outside, he saw a flock of birds. Saint Francis felt he needed to preach to them, and this turned out to be the first time he ever blessed animals. Little did he know he was starting a tradition that would reach so many people all these years later, including the NDB community.
People often take their pets for granted and do not realize what their animals are doing for them. Pets help humans’ mental health, and just brighten their day. People get accustomed to a joyful dog greeting them with a wagging tail every time they walk through the door, and do not realize how much this encounter would be missed. How empty the house would feel without them. Oftentimes, people forget that pets will not be in their lives forever. Therefore, it is important to make their time here the best it can be. One way this can be done is through Blessing of the Animals.
“I hope they feel good with a welcome, a blessing. The blessing is for the family. So I hope they pick up these vibes,” said Sister Carol, when asked what the blessing does for the animals.
Animals play a key role in people’s lives. They bring humans together and make people better people. More simply put, pets are automatic icebreakers. Take dogs, for example. The owner heads outside with their pup for their daily walk. On the route, a jogger stops, asking to pet the canine. They strike up a conversation, the jogger asking the dog’s name, age, and how long the owner has had them. And just like that, a connection is made. Maybe, without the dog, the jogger would have just glanced, smiled, and continued running. But the dog caused the interaction. The dog was the catalyst for the conversation.
Animals create connections. They make people’s lives better. So the least people can do in return is make their pets’ lives as great as they can be.
“It’s important because they are part of our lives, and I think animals make us better humans because of compassion and care,” said Sister Carol, when asked about why Blessing of the Animals is important.
Almost everyone can agree that animals better people’s lives. Whether it’s going on a walk, sitting in their owner’s lap, or simply keeping them company, animals never fail to bring out some smiles.
Pope Francis once said, “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us living creatures are dependent on one another.”
People, animals, plants – everything is intertwined in this great big thing we call life. It is critical that we care for each aspect of our world, small or large, feathered or scaled, because everything relies on everything.
On October 3rd, everyone left Blessing of the Animals smiling a little wider, walking a little lighter, and feeling a little more grateful for the wonderful animals in their lives.
