Bolingbrook Churches Offer Pet Blessings for Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Bolingbrook churches are preparing to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, by blessing the pets in their community.

According to the American Catholic website, Francis, whose feast day is October 4, loved the larks flying over the hilltop in his town. He and his early followers allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey at the small hotel where they were staying.

Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things: “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”

This weekend, local churches are planning to bless pets in keeping with St. Francis’s recognition of people’s love and bond with God’s creatures.

Pet Blessing Ceremonies:

• Church of St. Benedict, 909 Lily Cache Ln., Saturday at 2 p.m. 
• First Presbyterian Church of DuPage, 180 N. Weber Rd., Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m., blessing and pet parade (obstacle course, face painting, food and more)
• Christ the Servant Catholic Church in Woodridge, 8700 Havens Dr., Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Churches all around the area, will welcome animals with this special Blessing of the Pets:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

Source: American Catholic

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 Local editor Lorraine Swanson contributed to this report.