St. Francis Blessing of the Animals
A Tradition Rooted in Faith and Creation
Date: October 4
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Outdoor Chapel area
This tradition of blessing animals goes back over 800 years to Saint Francis of Assisi. Born into wealth in Italy, Francis gave up everything to live simply, follow Jesus, and care for the poor. He believed all of creation - people, animals, and nature - was connected and deeply loved by God. His kindness, joy, and preaching drew people from everywhere. One day, Francis came across a flock of birds and felt moved to talk to them as if they were his friends. He thanked God for the beauty of creation and reminded the birds (and himself) to be grateful. That simple act became the beginning of the Blessing of the Animals tradition we still celebrate today!