Malate Church blesses animals in honor of St. Francis

Pets took center stage at a church in Manila's Malate district Sunday, as priests blessed them to mark the feast of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Fr. Michael Martin of Malate Church said the this reminds the faithful that caring for God’s creation is a teaching with moral dimensions that cannot be ignored. “Today, there’s a terrible destruction of God’s creation and there’s a greater need than even before to reverse this pattern of destruction,” Martin said, according to an article posted Sunday afternoon on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. “Stop destroying God’s creation… so symbolically we do that today by bringing animals, plants and samples of life,” he added. On Sunday, the CBCP said dogs, cats, birds, and even snakes and tarantulas were "welcomed and blessed" as part of the celebration. While the official feast day of St. Francis is October 4, Malate Church decided to celebrate it again Sunday to accommodate and bless more animals. St. Francis, an Italian monk in the 12th century, was known for his love of the environment and animals. Other parishes in the country also continue the legacy of the saint with ministries and activities that protect both people and the planet. Martin said the occasion is now more relevant today, as there now a wanton destruction of the environment and wildlife. At Sunday's activity, the parish also offered free rabies vaccinations to dogs and cats inside the church grounds from 9 a.m. to noon. — LBG, GMA News