Fr Robert Hendrickson

Dear Friends in Christ,

Yesterday was our Blessing of the Animals with a whole of of pets, kids, and more all around the church and campus. It was great fun — and a chance to deepen our connection to our animal friends and our commitment to care for creation with greater attention and love.

Proverbs 12:10 explicitly declares, “The godly care for their animals”

People sometimes think that an emphasis on the dignity and life of animals is something new. But you see a special connection between saints and animals all through our history.

Saints are often marked by their care and connection with the creatures and nature around them.

Saint Gertrude is the patron Saint of cats. Saint Roch is the patron Saint of dogs.

* Bees have St. Ambrose,

* Birds: St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Gall

* Blackbirds have St. Kevin

* Cows have St. Brigid, St. Perpetua* Doves, geese, horses, and whales each have their own patron Saint too.

It does seem that birds must be thought especially in need of grace as they’ve been assigned three saints!

Saint Francis of Assisi, whom we commemorated yesterday, is considered the Patron Saint of all animals and ecology. In fact, he preached some of his sermons preached to animals his insisted that all creatures are brothers and sisters under the same Almighty God.

In His Song of Songs, St. Francis invites all Christians and creatures to give honor and praise to the Lord: among these creatures, he includes animals, plants and natural forces, such as “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon”.

Through his masterpiece, Francis wants to witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to completely devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation.

He wants to strengthen that sense of fraternity towards all the creatures of God, because everything that exists is the result of God’s unconditional love for humanity. May this week offer chances for a deeper sense of our connection with all creatures as all of them come from God and are a sign of his love for us and for all he has made.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Robert