The Celebration of the Blessing of the Animals
on St. Francis Day

Sept. 30, 2001 (transferred from Oct. 1)

By
The Rev. Ann M. Smith

Based on the Gospel: Matthew 6:25-33

The cover of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul says that pets are "teachers, healers, heroes and friends". I suspect that it is because of those wonderful traits that you are here today. This celebration is about blessing our pets. It is also about how we have been blessed by having a pet to care for. We get pets for our children because we hope it will give them a sense of responsibility. But the benefits are far greater than that. Having a pet in our lives changes the way we think about love. So it is fitting that we should bring them to God for a blessing. It is especially fitting to do so on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Every story I have ever read about him is about love. Even more importantly, his love and forgiveness are directed to all creation, not just the human family.

Francis loved animals of all kinds. Travel with him after a rain was extremely slow because he would stop and pick up worms along the path in order not to step on them. He fed and named the mice that lived in his monastic cell. It is said that the larks all sang to him on the night of his death.

Perhaps the most famous animal in the life of Francis was a wolf that terrified the people in the town of Gubbio. This wolf killed other animals and even devoured human beings. Though no one traveled without carrying a weapon, they found that their primitive clubs and spears were no match for the sharp teeth of the wolf.

One day St. Francis made a visit to Gubbio. The citizens of the town warned him about the wolf, "Don't go outside the gate, Brother Francis," they said, "because the wolf will attack and kill you."

Francis said to the people, "Jesus Christ is the Lord of all creatures." Then without a shield, helmet or weapon, he and a companion walked out into the country. A few peasants followed him from a safe distance. Others climbed trees and stood on rooftops to view the encounter between Francis and the wolf.

Soon the wolf appeared. When he saw Francis he broke into a run with his mouth open. Francis made the sign of the cross and called out, "Brother Wolf, in the name of Christ I order you not to hurt me or anyone."

As soon as Francis made the sign of the cross the wolf closed its terrible jaws and stopped running. When Francis ordered the wolf to come to him, it lowered its head and lay down at the saint's feet as though it had become a lamb.

"Brother Wolf," Francis said, "you have done great harm in this region and you have committed horrible crimes by destroying God's creatures without any mercy. You have killed human beings who have been created in the image of God. You deserve to be treated like a murderer. This whole town is your enemy. But I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio."

The wolf indicated by moving his body that he was willing to accept the saint's judgement. Francis continued, "Brother Wolf, since you are willing to keep the peace, I promise that the people of this town will feed you each day so that you need never suffer from hunger again, for I know that whatever you have been doing is because you are very hungry. At the same time, Brother Wolf, I want you to promise you will never again hurt any animal or human being. Do you promise?

The wolf nodded its head, promising to do what the saint asked.

"Now Brother Wolf," Francis concluded, "I want you to give me a sign of your pledge. The saint held out his hand and the wolf raised its front paw and gently placed it in St. Francis's hand as a sign of its pledge.

Then the wolf followed St. Francis into the town like a gentle lamb. People gathered in amazement to see the strange sight. Francis told them that the fires of hell were much more dangerous than the powers of any wolf. He told them that the wolf had pledged to be peaceful as long as they fed him.

Both the wolf and the people of Gubbio kept the pact that Francis had made. The wolf went door to door for food and hurt no one. People fed it and it is said that not a single dog barked at it.

Two years later when the wolf died, the people mourned the loss of their new friend because it reminded them of the virtues and holiness of St. Francis.

An unbelievable story! I don't think so. But then, I have a Great Uncle George who once asked the camels to come out of their hut at the zoo so that he could speak to them. They came right over to him at the fence, and seemed intent on what he was saying to them. I also have a dog, Jewel, and a cat Jasmine who have taught me so much about love and about relationships. And you each have a story about your pet, about its unique qualities, about how well it understands what you say to it, your feelings and moods. And so today we bring them to God, our creator, who cares for every living thing. And we ask God to bless us too.