The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Our pastor, Sue, had told us she was doing the “ blessing of the animals” at the churches in Havre and Chester. Did we want to have a service also? Of course, we did. I did some research into the blessing of animals. I had heard about it but never attended a church that did it.

The idea and service go back 800 years to St. Francis of Assisi. St Francis is, of course, the patron saint of animals. He wanted a thanksgiving for God’s creations, so he asked for animals’ blessings. He celebrated the human/ animal bond. St Francis quoted Exodus, which reminds us we are to treat animals wit...