Sunday, Oct. 05, 2008

Blessed is Little Devil, even though he chews

It wasn't because Little Devil once chewed a corner of an expensive rug that prompted Karen Abbott to bring the 5-year-old Siberian husky to the Blessing of the Animals at Living Lord Lutheran Church on Saturday morning.

It was the memory of her other dog.

"I had one for 12 years and he didn't get blessed and he died," said the woman. "I felt bad about it. So I wanted to make sure this one got blessed."

Little Devil joined more than 75 other animals in receiving holy blessings during a ceremony that honors St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment, according to Father Damian Amantia of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, who partnered with Living Lord Lutheran Church to put on the event.

Also called the Feast of St. Francis, it is acknowledged by the Catholic Church every Oct. 4.

"Francis was a great lover of the gospel of life," said Amantia, also a Franciscan friar who has sanctified animals each October since he became a priest 18 years ago. "This is a great way to extend that to the blessing of the animals."

The event also was an opportunity for the churches to collect food, blankets, carriers and other necessities for animals at the Humane Society and for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Barb Wegener brought her three dogs to be blessed: a 5-year-old golden retriever named Samson, a 3-year-old red Doberman named Mocha and a Southeastern guide dog puppy named Colt. Even though it was their first time, Wegener was thrilled.

"Our souls go to heaven and we know that, and we believe they do, too," she said as she held the dogs on leashes waiting for the ceremony to begin. "They're part of our family. We want to keep them safe."

Like Wegener, Marilynn and Todd Godfrey brought their yorkie-poo, Rocket, for his first blessing. Although Todd Godfrey said the dog was in "desperate need of a blessing," Marilynn Godfrey said the real blessing was just receiving the dog.

"After I had breast cancer, the family said I needed a dog," she said. "I'm doing fine. I have Rocket. He's a very good boy."

Wearing a stole bearing the animals of Noah's Ark for the ceremony, The Rev. Jeff Gross, of Living Lord Lutheran Church, welcomed everyone and their animals.

"We're really happy to have you all here," he said. "We are going to bless these beautiful creatures God has given us."

Gross started off the ceremony reading passages from the Bible about all the "creatures in heaven, on Earth, in the air and in the sea."

"In the universe, all are one," he said.

One golden retriever couldn't hold back his enthusiasm, and barked. The rest of the dogs and cats remained well-behaved as Amantia continued.

"You have given us this Earth as home for all that inhabits it in our care," he said. "We care for our pets as You would care for them."

Then, Gross and Amantia walked through the crowd sprinkling water upon the many dogs and cats, as well as the lone bird, a bright green parrot.

Gross concluded the ceremony by telling everyone, "Go in peace, serve the Lord and help yourself to some treats." There were dog biscuits and Frosty Paws frozen treats for the dogs and cats, and animal crackers and goldfish crackers for their humans.

Afterwards, Wegener said the ceremony was beautiful, even though her dogs didn't quite understand the magnitude of it all.

"They weren't sure what was going on," she said. "The golden thought he was getting a drink."

And through it all, Little Devil was quite an angel, said Abbott.

"He liked it," she said. "He got blessed."