By Father Francis
One of the many stories about Saint Francis of Assisi goes like this: Brother Francis invited Brother Angelo to go out and evangelize. They came into a township and walked around the streets. As it was getting late, Brother Angelo asked Francis: “When will we start to evangelize?”. To this, Brother Francis was somewhat surprised and quickly replied: “Angelo, we have been doing that the whole day!”.
When I first arrived in Rye, New York, I found out that we had a dog. His name: Rico. The LC community liked Rico, but no one seemed to have time to walk him. So, one day I invited Brother Rico to go out and evangelize… and we’ve been doing that for more than two years.
Like Francis and Angelo, Rico and I are dressed alike. We wear all-black clothes and have a distinguishing white spot in the upper part of our chest. Like Francis and Angelo, we hope that those who cross our path experience God’s blessing. We pray for them and… smell them.
Once a woman came close to us and said: “I have seen you and your dog before. I’m new in this town and I was debating with myself if I should inscribe my kids in the Catholic school. At that moment I looked out the window, I saw you and your dog, and I knew what I had to do”.
I’ve been taking Rico to a wonderful place in Glenville whenever we need a boarding service. Rico always gets special treatment and everyone there seems to know him! This pet-grooming service recently opened a second store – this time in Rye – and the man-and-pet in black were invited to bless this store.
As October 4th was getting closer, two fathers of my community came up with the idea of a pet-blessing in our garden. I called our local parish to hear their opinion and, after receiving a “green light” from them, I called my friends of the pet-grooming service.
They made the cutest invitation to the event and over fifteen dogs came to celebrate the day of St. Francis of Assisi at our home! As we were doing the benedictions a group of Canadian geese flew over us. In the most solemn moment of our blessing all doggies quieted down. This all happened with the sound of our Marian fountain, with the sunset and with an almost full moon in the background. It was as if the Canticle of the Sun was being played just for us.
All blessings include a moment for preaching and this time I hear myself saying: “Saint Paul reminds us that all creation is groaning in labor pains and waits for the revelation of the children of God. Francis was such a revelation for the creatures around him. Therefore, the wolf was tamed, and the birds came to listen to his preaching at Canara, Umbria. You are also called to be that revelation for your pets. You are called to show them the goodness of their Creator”.
I try to make that idea my mission regarding Rico. Nevertheless, in these years with him the opposite has also been true: I have often experienced the goodness of the Creator in my regards… through Rico.
