Francis of Assisi with a special blessing for animals MANILA -- It’s a day for wagging tails, happy faces and a special annual blessing at the Malate Church in Manila. Every Oct. 4, Catholics mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, remembered for his humility, compassion and deep love for all living things.
Many parishes choose the first Sunday of October to hold community animal blessings or St. Francis service events for convenience. At Malate Church, parishioners marked the feast Sunday by bringing their beloved pets for a special blessing — mostly dogs but also cats and even a pet snail.
Parishioners formed a line as they walked up the aisle with their pets, waiting patiently for a priest to sprinkle their companions with holy water. For pet owners, it was a simple expression of gratitude for the unconditional love, joy and companionship these animal friends bring into their lives every day while honoring St. Francis' call to respect and care for all of God’s creation.
Not exactly like us in the sense that they can’t speak, but they do have emotions," said 32-year-old nurse Gaudine Supnet, who owns four Shih Tzu dogs.
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