In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, on Sunday, October 3rd, clergy from St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, the Christian Church of Pacific Grove, and the First United Methodist Church of Pacific Grove (the Butterfly church) along with Kristine, blessed the animals in Berwick Park.
There were close to fifty people who attended this event with their dogs, cats, and birds, filling the grass area in front of the whale sculpture. A harpist provided a beautiful serenade before and after the service.
We gave thanks for our pets and for those who take care of them and all creatures. We remembered St.Francis, whose love for all creatures inspires these pet blessing services. This prayer is attributed to him:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O God, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
