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Father Peter J. Van Hook blesses a dog as his own pet, Schultz the Magnificent, right, says hello during the annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Mary's Church in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011.

Daily Herald file photo

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People with their pets wait for a priest's blessing inside San Francisco church on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. Traditional stories about the life of St. Francis say he had a great love for animals and the environment.

Esteban Felix, Associated Press

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Can we get an amen for man’s best friend?

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Provo will be holding the annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.

This event is open to everyone, and all creatures are welcome. In the past, besides cats and dogs and horses, the church has had a spider and a goldfish blessed and hopes to have a wide variety of animals this year too.

As part of the festivities, visitors will have the opportunity to go inside the sanctuary and learned about the history of St. Mary’s, including its stained glass windows.

The Rev. Daniella “Dani” Lee joined St. Mary’s this year and will be on hand to give animals and creatures their due attention. The annual Blessing of the Animals is one way members give thanks to God and St. Francis for the blessing of pets in their lives.

The tradition of blessing animals dates back to when St. Francis, considered the patron saint of animals and ecology, was alive in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Although the feast of St. Francis is actually celebrated on Oct. 4, the day St. Francis was buried, the blessing of the animals is typically scheduled for a Saturday so people who work during the week are able to attend.

However, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orem is celebrating Wednesday with an English and Spanish mass during the day followed by blessings for animals at 10:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.

There will be food and celebration throughout the day for members of the church to celebrate the Orem church’s namesake.

For those who don’t have a dog but would like one, October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and many are available for just $10; check you local shelter.

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