By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Father Antonio Tupiza, parochial vicar at St. Rose of Lima in Miami Shores, recites a St. Francis of Assisi prayer as Maria Del Carmen Saavedra holds the Book of Blessings during the annual pet blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi's feast day.
Clorisa Aleman, 10, hands Simba, her bunny, to Father Antonio Tupiza, parochial vicar at St. Rose of Lima in Miami Shores, during the annual pet blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi's feast day.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, gets up close with Godzilla, a bearded dragon, brought for a blessing during the blessing of animals on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, blesses pets on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, blesses pets on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, poses with a parishioner and her dog on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Esney Muñoz, parochial vicar at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, takes a turn carrying Godzilla, a bearded dragon, who was brought by his young owner for a blessing during the blessing of animals on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Esney Muñoz , parochial vicar at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, blesses pets on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, carries a small fawn french bulldog, brought for a blessing during the blessing of animals on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami, and Father Esney Muñoz invoke a blessing for pets during the blessing of animals on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
A St. Francis bunny: A parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Church holds her rabbit during the blessing of animals on the vigil of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 3, 2021. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC, COURTESY
MIAMI SHORES | Owners flocked to St. Rose of Lima Church Sunday afternoon to get their pets blessed the day before the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Oct. 4.
Many churches throughout the Archdiocese of Miami marked the feast of the patron saint of animals and the environment with the traditional blessing of pets: usually dogs and cats, but sometimes rabbits and other, more exotic wildlife, like a bearded dragon named Godzilla who was brought to St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami for its blessing.
"We see the creation of God in animals, and from them we receive accompaniment, love, fidelity. The love of all of these animals gets us closer to God," said Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor at St. Michael's.
After a few years without the event, Father Gonzalez brought the tradition back last year during the pandemic. This year, over 100 pets were blessed on church grounds.
Other animal blessings took place either Oct. 3, the Sunday before the feast day of St. Francis, or after morning and evening Masses Oct. 4, 2021.
This article was updated Oct. 5, 2021.
