I am not Roman Catholic, so I do not keep track of such things, but one of the Press-Enterprise blogs does:
Fr. Louis Abdoo from St. Francis de Sales Church will be present to bless pets
When: Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
This will be held at the Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer at 7944 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.
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The website americancatholic.org explains the tradition:
Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.
Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat!...
At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:
“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”
In other pet-related news, the Riverside Humane Society is opening a Pet Adoption Center at 6165 Industrial Avenue.
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The opening date? Again, October 4.
