Monday, October 5, 2009

The Feast of St. Francis

Yesterday was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and as I was working, wasn't able to take Rory & Fiona to be blessed by the monks at St. Vincent. Still, I want to share this feast day with you.

A couple of years ago, we took the pups when they were wee ones to be blessed. Rory wriggled like crazy and Fiona had to announce herself to all and sundry. Four years later, not much has changed; he still has never met a Human Being he didn't love and she is still bossy with a capital B.

I love the legends surrounding St. Francis. Imagine being able to call all manner of wild life and have it feel safe and loved in your presence? So, the tradition of blessing the animals is one of which I am very partial.

Yesterday, a friend shared something with me that actually made me cry. It is beautiful, and so to honor St. Francis, and in my way ask a blessing on my pups, I'm sharing it with you.

Here In This House
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs, 'out there'.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat and the rain's coolness,
and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house...

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house...

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.
I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.
Here in this house...

I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...
Knowing that, not matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that Humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.

~Author Unknown


Rory & Fiona wish the very same blessings for you and your animals. And believe as I do, that all things living should feel this blessed, loved & cherished.


Namaste' Till Next Time,

Holly aka Mommer

24 comments:

Bitsa Lit said...

Oh my goodness! they are so cute!
I actually teared up when I was reading that poem!
Thankyou for posting it!
Happy Autumn!

Boozy Tooth said...

Oh Holly, I got teary too. Such beautiful words! And I read them with my little Augie laying by my side under the covers as I gently stroked his slumbering body.

We are so much better for the sweet animal friends in our care. Thank you for this lovely poem.

PS: And I know you don't really hate me. Right?

Debra She Who Seeks said...

A beautiful poem!

Kathleen Krucoff said...

I LOVE this poem. Thank you so much for sharing. I know my bassets live this in our home. Wonderful.

Anonymous said...

That is so very beautiful Holly. Your pups are simply adorable!

Diva Kreszl said...

What a lovely poem...our pets are indeed a part of our families and bring us countless hours of joy!

Life With Dogs said...

This is a great selection Holly, and I would love to know who that author is! I was just reading about the blessing of animals in Pittsburgh and wondering if you would make it.

No worries, your dogs are already blessed...

Anne H said...

Your pups look like Yin-Yang babies here!

Sulwyn said...

Thank you for sharing that poem! I had to laugh a little, though, as it is the first really chilly morning here and I just dug out a fleece blanket for Jesse (my dog) who started shivering a little and is now curled up happily beside me on the couch wrapped snugly like a little burrito!

mel said...

*sniffle*

How beautiful....

..considering our latest addition who hadn't known all those things...exceptionally beautiful..even if she did just diddle off with a loo-bolt cover again -- I evidently forgot to remove that one...*sigh*

And how cute that your Loves sat like perfect bookends on that chair!!

~love~

Sara said...

Your pups are so precious. And that poem was beautiful and made my eyes water a little. Thank you for sharing. xx

Suzie said...

Holly, count me among the teary eyed.

And, as much as I love and care for our fellow furry friends, I always seem to feel that I'm more on the receiving end, than the giving. They add SO much depth, richness and love to our lives.

We, both the four and two legged are all blessed, just by sharing our lives.

Thanks so much for sharing this poem with us!

Sarah Sullivan said...

Ok yup..I cried!! Not just for all the sweet critters who miss out on this wonderful experience..but the prople too who live on the street and children who are not loved as they should!! Wonderful wonderful post hon!!! Huge hugs to sweet Rory and Fiona. Lucy Lu sends a comfy woof out to them!!
Love, Sarah

Tessa said...

How absolutely wonderful, Holly, that poem is so very beautiful. Our animals do become the living soul of our homes, don't they? Thank you so much for sharing those worlds with us.

That photographs is just perfection! Look at those two, you just can't help but smile. Please give them a snuzzle from me!

I've got myself a freshly brewed cup of coffee so I can now snuggle up and read all those posts of your I've missed recently. I know I'm in for a big treat! xxx

Joanna Jenkins said...

Oh Holly, that was beautiful. Thank you.

My folks took their new 8 week old puppy to be blessed yesterday and were so pleased that he behaved himself. It's like they have a new baby in the house and they are LOVING him so much.

Hope your week is grand!
Love you,
xo

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Thank you for posting the poem - it was so beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. This week has been a hard one for me because Lilly is staying with another breeder and having to live in a kennel - heaven forbid - my baby in a kennel! But it will be OK and we hope she comes home with some puppies in her little belly.

Your Scotties are lovely - thanks for posting their picture too.

Lynn

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

I love this poem! My daughter works with ferret rescue in her area and sent this to me...I couldn't stop crying. It is so true...our pets give us so much and ask so little. Your pups are truly blessed not only from St Francis, but by having you!

Marlene said...

Very touching..and very true..In my house they are family..and always will be..I am blessed to have them with me and a thier love is a gift I am thankful of daily!

joyce said...

What an absolutley wonderful poem! I teared up too.
St Francis of Assissi reminds me of my childhood in a catholic school. I also agree with Anne..your dogs look like yin & yang in that chair mirroring each other. For some reason I always picture the black one a Rory.

Genie Sea said...

How absolutely touching! It brought a lump to my throat! Sniff. :)

xxx said...

Beautiful Holly :)

I absolutely love animals too

xoxo Ribbon

beth said...

seriously...they look like an old married couple with so much personality that it just cracks me up !

Karen D said...

Thank you for sharing this. It is wonderful.

ajordan said...

I blessed my dogs with the same poem...how lovely for Rory and Fiona....
What a wonderful post, Holly!
Thanks so very much for posting!
Angela

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