All Around Ashburn: Faithful Friends Get a Blessing

An unusually diverse crowd gathered at the entrance to St. Theresa's church in Ashburn on Sunday afternoon. There were the to-be-expected families, but there were also, dogs, cats and even a pair of rabbits. Pet owners gathered to have their pets blessed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a saint to whom the characteristics of love of the natural world and the love of poverty are attributed.

Francis of Assisi was born into a fairly prosperous family of seven children. Although he grew up with wealth and was accustomed to a life of leisure as a youth, he later turned away from his wealth to serve the poor. There is a legend about his taming of a wild and ferocious wolf that had terrorized the city of Gubbio in Italy. His peaceful way with animals resulted in his title of patron saint of animals.

Last Sunday, a flock of faithful brought their pets to seek the intercession for the saint's protection.

Every year, on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Francis, the priests of St. Theresa offer a ceremony to pet owners to bring their pets to the church grounds to be blessed. This year, the feast fell on a Sunday.

Owners generally agreed that the blessing was for the health and spiritual well-being of their faithful friends. One owner told me her dogs, Max and Jake, “Like to go to church once a year.” While another owner answered anyone who might doubt the benefits of the blessing by saying, “Have they ever seen a vet bill?”

Kathleen and her daughters Priscilla and Rachelanne brought their Maltese named “Coconut Chanel DeSprinkles” with the hope that the blessing will speed the dog’s recovery from a recent major surgery on her liver. “Every little bit helps,” Kathleen told me while cradling the tiny puppy.