Beloved Creatures Blessed On Feast Day
In 1181, Francis of Assisi was born and first baptised as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone after John the Baptist, then renamed by his father as Francesco. He became an Italian Catholic Friar, Deacon, Mystic, and Preacher. He founded the Men’s Order of Friars Minor, the Women’s Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land. He developed a deep love of nature and animals and became known as the patron saint of the environment and animals – inspired to call all animals as sisters and brothers.
It has become customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on or near Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day of 4 October. On this day, Reverend Ken Spreadborough of St Georges Anglican Church held a Blessing of Pets Service and was joined by some dogs, a cat, a chicken, and a bird bath for birds who all enjoyed the blessing bestowed upon them.
