Pets of Faith Line Up for the Blessing of the Animals

This weekend was a hairy one at Christian churches around the world.

October 4th is the Christian feast day of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment. In recognition, the day also is observed as World Animal Day, which is celebrated by animal lovers everywhere, regardless of religious creed. For Christians though, October 4th marks a day during which many churches around the world offer a special Blessing of the Animals. Worshippers line up one by one for their pets -- furry, feathered, and even scaled -- to receive individual blessings.

Some places make a real event of it too. Sure, you'll find people at various churches across the land with the expected dogs, some run-of-the-mill cats, maybe a cockatiel or two, but in some of the larger venues, like The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine on New York City, you could have spotted a giant tortoise, a monkey, a falcon, even a freakin' camel.

Saint Francis is said to have loved all animals, so we guess that means churches don't get to pick and choose which beasts may and may not enter. Still, a camel among the pews? We hope they keep a stash of sawdust in the rectory.

The Washington National Cathedral got in on the action too, with a huge outdoor Blessing of the Animals event, seen here.

Tags: blessing of the animals, BlessingOfTheAnimals, saint francis, SaintFrancis, world animal day, WorldAnimalDay