Ben Madilynn
From the toy breeds to the hounds and the herding group and more, our four-legged best friends had a blessed day Thursday at the annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Agnes Episcopal Church, Sebring.
Don and Maryann Jackson brought Terry, 7-year-old Shih Tzu mix, for his blessing. The Jacksons are regular church members of St. Agnes.
Maryann spotted Timm and Patty Scott, who also worship at the church, as they arrived with a pair of large breed poodles, Oskar and Van Cleef.
“Oh my gosh, I saw the one. I didn’t see two,” Maryann said.
Oskar and Van Cleef barked a bit and appeared to be excited about the occasion.
Patty said, “They are not supposed to bark.”
Timm, who had the excited Oskar on a leash, said, “I had the honor of being the senior warden” at the church.
At Episcopal churches, the senior warden is usually the lay leader of the congregation and serves as a principal liaison between the parish and the rector.
The Blessing of the Animals was conducted Thursday by Rector Scott Walker and Deacon Karen Davenport.
There are 88 saints named “Francis” and honored in the Catholic and Episcopal Church.
Some include St. Francis Xavier, the co-founder of the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits.
St. Francis Borgia was a nobleman recognized as a legendary preacher and founder of the Gregorian University in Rome. St. Francis de Sales was the bishop of Geneva known for his goodness, patience and mildness. St. Frances Cabrini, (Mother Cabrini) an Italian nun who came to New York City in 1889. She met with many hardships helping the cities poor, but her attitude was, “Never give up.” She became a naturalized U.S. citizen, died in Chicago and was the first U.S. citizen to become a canonized saint.
If you search the 88 saints whose name was Francis, you will be in awe of their unique dedication and love of Christianity.
By far and above the most venerated saint in Christianity was St. Francis, born in Assisi, France in 1224.
Francis was a beggar who founded the religious order named ”Franciscans.” He is known as the patron of animals as many stories are handed down telling of his love for all creatures. He called all creatures his brothers and sisters. Once told his brothers to wait for him, “while I go preach to my sister, the birds.” Hence he is often pictured with a bird in hand.
Another time he is said to make the sign of the cross and commanded a wild wolf to come to him and then told it to not harm anyone in the village.
Walker spoke of St. Francis of Assisi, who was born in Assisi, France in 1181 and who is known as the patron saint of pets and animals.
St. Francis preached for all animals and he had a love for all people and an affinity for the poor, he said.
Oct. 4 is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, which commemorates the death of St. Francis, who died near midnight on Oct. 3, 1226.
On Thursday, the family dogs were on one side of the church and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies with their K9s were on the other side.
Each of the dogs came one at a time to the front of the church to receive their blessing from Walker and Davenport.
Some information provided by Staff Writer John Guerra.
