Pet blessings – from hermit crabs to a chicken
Drew Martindmartin@islandpacket.com
Matthew Humphrey hoists his pet turtle Tuck into the air on Thursday morning as the pair wait for Father Pedro Gomez to administer holy water during the annual blessing of the animals at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Bluffton. Although Matthew’s pet was unusual among the many dogs and cats, others brought hermit crabs, a chicken and several students brought their favorite stuffed toy animal.
4 comments:
I grew up in the Midwest in the 1950s and 1960s and never saw a blessing of the animals until fairly recently. One parish on the outskirts of town with a number of farm families does it. Is that anyone else's experience?
Salt, water, and herbs. Animals in pasture for farmer, blessing of the farm, etc. ships, planes, homes, dams, canals.
But I get the priest’s point and completely agree. I also think he over estimates the psychological strength of so many people with companion animals.
I also grew up in the '50's and '60's and never heard of this blessing until fairly recently. The tradition seems to have really spread and I am certainly not opposed to it, as long as it is reverent and doesn't become goofy and turn into entertainment.
Mallen
The words of the blessing would seem to exclude toy stuffed animals. Perhaps they should receive a different blessing?
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