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On Saturday, October 5th members, friends, and neighbors of S. Clement's gathered in the parish garden for the blessing of animals.

An Order for the Blessing of Animals in Honour of S. Francis of Assisi

V. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen.

Address

My Dear Brothers and Sisters: We are gathered here to-day to bless these animals in honour of S. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we kept on Friday of this week. S. Francis was born into a wealthy family of merchants at Assisi in Umbria in the year 1182. As a young man, he was popular, charming, and enjoyed life to the full. When war broke out between Assisi and a neighbouring city, Francis eagerly volunteered to fight for his town, but was soon captured and spent a year in captivity. He returned to Assisi as a hero, but unknown to his townsfolk, he had undergone a transformation and was now searching for meaning in his life.

He heard the voice of Christ in a vision telling him to take up the task of rebuilding his Church which had fallen into ruins. He turned away from earthly pleasures, sold what he had and gave the proceeds to the poor and began his mission of preaching and penitence. His wealthy father reacted to his son's new life by disinheriting him. So Francis lived in utter poverty, barefoot and wearing a simple tunic. His humbleness, kindness, and love for all creation attracted the attention of others who were seeking God and they also chose to give up worldly pleasures and follow him to spread the Gospel and serve the poor.

Moved by contemplation of the truth of the Incarnation of the Word of God as man and his suffering upon the Cross, Francis felt a deep bond with all of creation. We know that he had much love for animals and a special fondness for birds. He liked to refer to animals as his brothers and sisters. We read in his life that wild animals had no fear of Francis and that they even came to him seeking refuge from harm.

Francis' life was crowned with the reception in his flesh of the marks of the Crucified Christ and at his death he praised God for all of the created world and even for the approach of "Our Sister" the death of the body.

V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord. R. Who has made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray

O GOD, our refuge and strength, hear the prayers of thy Church, and grant that what we seek with faith, we may receive in fact. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.

O GOD, who by the merits of blessed Francis has increased thy Church with the fruit of a new offspring: Grant that after his example, we may despise earthly things and always rejoice in sharing thy heavenly gifts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.

Let these animals receive thy blessing, + 0 Lord, to the benefit of their well being, and by the intercession of Saint Francis, thy Deacon and Confessor, deliver them from all harm. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The animals are now sprinkled individually with Holy Water.