| The
Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis October 6, 2001 |
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| After
spending the afternoon at the Riverdale Park Day festivities, Joya and
Jupiter went with me to St. John's Lutheran Church in Riverdale
Park for The Blessing of The Animals. This annual event is
held the first week in October to celebrate The Feast of St. John of
Assisi, patron saint and protector of animals who died on October 4,
1226.
Joya and
Jupiter sat quietly while they received their individual blessing.
Then Pastor Rachel and attendees shared the following prayer:
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"O Lord, you have looked upon your whole creation and declared it good. We thank you for the animals with whom we share this earth, and particularly for those whom you have given into our care. We pray that you will guard them and tend to their necessities, relieve their suffering, protect them from abuse and exploitation, and let each of us see in them the beauty and glory of your creative hand. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen." |
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