Hi guys. Last week I went on a little outing. Lemme tell you all about it.
Thursday, October 4, was the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Now for those of you who may not know, St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. Many stories regarding St. Francis’s life are about his love for animals and the environment. You can read more about him here.
Many Catholic churches celebrate the Feast of St. Francis by having a Blessing of the Animals. The mom, being a good catholic girl, learned that one of our local churches was having a Blessing that day and decided to take me. I got to go instead of Ernie or Zoey because neither of them like being in the carrier, aka the PTU (prisoner transport unit). Ernie has been known to yell at the top of his lungs when he’s in there. And Zoey…well, sometimes she makes a mess in the PTU, if you know what I mean. Now I don’t much like the PTU either but I rarely complain about it. So the mom packed me up and took me to church to be blessed.
The blessing took place outside on the steps of the church. As I suspected, there were lots of dogs…in fact, there were only a few other cats besides me. And one rabbit.
A lot of the dogs were barking up a storm, and it was kinda cool and a little windy, so I stayed huddled in the PTU, safe and sound.
The priest, Father Michael, came out and welcomed all of us. He said a prayer for all us animals.
Then he got out what I call his magic water wand and proceeded to splash all of us with holy water.
He walked through the crowd saying hello to all of us and threw the water. Don’t worry…being in the PTU, I didn’t get wet at all. In fact, that magic wand really didn’t throw much water…more like a sprinkle.
The ceremony didn’t last very long…maybe about 10 minutes or so. Then we headed home.
When I got home, I curled up and took a nice long nap. All that blessing stuff was exhausting! Y’know, I don’t feel any different now that I’ve been blessed. But I know I’m way more holier than Ernie and Zoey.
41 Responses to “What’s That Wally Doing?”
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Wow, that’s so cool! I’d love to be blessed. McLaren and I often splash each other with water when we dunk our paws in the water bowl… Do you think that means we are blessed already?
Love Laser x
That’s wonderful Wally! Our Priest used to come to the house to bless us but he retired and the new one doesn’t know us yet.
you’re a saint wally.
Prisoner Transport Unit. I’ll remember this.
I’m glad you got to go and I’m sure your mom is too.
Have a purrfect Wordless Wednesday. ♥
Glad you got blessed Wally. Back in the dark ages, when Mom was into horses, they had a blessing of the horses every year. It was great. You all have a super day.
Just wanted to let you know, that was Loo in the peek a boo picture. She is one of the two feral cats staying in my extra room. You can see her roommate Boo behind her. Loo is becoming more and more friendly.
Walls, how nifty that you got this new adventure! And hey, a little holy water and a blessing is better than a vet visit, amIright?
Are you saying that Zoey should be a member of the PTU Poopers Club? It seems there are never many cats at the Blessings of the Animals. Maybe cats are just naturally blessed…yep, that’s what we think. Mom and Dad were able to take Fiona not long before she passed away, which gave them a lot of peace. We think a nap was well deserved, Wally. XOCK, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer
How cool! This is the first year we didn’t go to one because the Church we usually go to postponed it because of the super hot weather.
The Florida Furkids
Oh, I LOVE the blessing of the animals! We need to find a church around here to take the boys next year. They could use some “howly” water sprinkled on them.
Oh, you blessed little kitty. I think you are definitely better for it but who knows, really?
Wally, I’m glad you got to go. The nicest trip the PTU has ever taken anybuddy on.
I think your mom was blessed when she got you, Wally. 🙂
Prisoner transport unit! It seems what P stands for varies depending on who is talking hahaha 🙂 It’s so cool you got blessing, Wally! You are definitely holier 🙂
Thank the Heavens you didn’t have to go to the V-E-T instead, Wally. Mom and I didn’t know that churches did that ceremony. Dad has a small figurine of St. Francis that sits in the kitchen. The kitty before me knocked it off the shelf one day causing it to break in half, but it was glued back together. Purrs.
You do look much more religious now that you’ve been practically sprinkled. Do we call you “Father Wally” ??????
Hugs, Teddy
How wonderful! Thanks for sharing the story and the pics.
Wally you are so funny holier than Zoey and Ernie. OMCs.
And I just saw your Monday post on the window seat. I was away with hubby getting his cataract surgery
Hugs Cecilia
I wish they done that here. Amazing. I would love my boy to be blessed.
DOOD !!!!!!!!!!! HOW…….TOTAL…..LEE…….KEWL….IZ……THIZ !!!!!!!!
everee one noez how awesum we think st francis iz…….himz R hee roe 🙂
we iz buzzed happee ya getted ta go two de blessing….. ♥♥♥
You are the chosen one, Wally!! 🙂
I think you’re almost like a priest cat and all your sins are absolved. Maybe all your health problems will disappear too.
that is so cool!! Zulu, Amarula and Frodo want to be holy too!! Hopefully they will have something like that here!
I think it’s SO wonderful that you got to be blessed, Wally! We used to take my childhood cat Patch each year a long time ago. Are you going to share your blessings with your siblings?
Sounds like a cool outing! But yes, a little exhausting.
That’s pretty awesome, Wally! We’re only blessed when we sneeze but we there’s no holy water around. Actually, there’s nothing holy about so it’s pretty cool you were actually blessed in a holy way! We kinda giggled at the dog who looks like its yelling when being sprinkled by holy water in the 3rd pic!
I am so glad you were able to get blessed. Our priest stopped doing this a few years ago and I haven’t found another nearby. It is such a beautiful tradition.
Glad you went to get blessed for all of us who don’t get out much. Mum says even some Lutheran churches have been doing blessings.
How cool that you got a blessing, Wally!
Minko used to be like Zoey in the PTU…
I don’t know if they had a ceremony like that here in our city.
That is neat that you got some Holy water on your furs.
Last week, a resident I look after kept asking one of the activity girls if she had gone to the local church to bring him back the Holy water he asked for, MOL!
You’re lucky you got blessed without getting sprinkled on, Wally! When I went to our Blessing, which happens around Easter, the Archbishop guy (we got a big wig, since it’s a big city) was throwing around holy water like mad! And it was a much bigger wand than your Father Michael had. I got four kinds of wet and so did my human!
We’re glad you enjoyed yourself Wally. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Awe, how nice that you were able to go and get blessed! Years and years ago, my assistant brought her cat Tommy to a blessing. He was the bravest of her three cats and she thought he would do the best. Each animal was brought up separately. Tommy was fine being carried down the isle to the alter. But just as the priest spritzed him with holy water he let out the loudest hiss you have ever heard – it echoed through the whole church!
Yippee for being blessed. We love this day and hope your nap felt blessed too!
Wally, dude that was epically epic! What a truly pawesome report and we so wished that here in the UK they did something like that.
Thank mew so much fur sharing, mew really made our day!
Purrs
The B Team xox
You are a bonafide adventure kitty, Wally! Actually… make that a BLESSED bonafide adventure kitty! We’ve never been to something like that before. Looks cool though!
How lucky you are, Wally! Mom went to one of those blessings many years ago with my sisters who came before me.
Wally, what a trip! I would like to be blessed too but I don’t think that happens here. Consider yourself holier than us or Zoey and Ernie.
Shoko
Oh, Wally, you made us laugh in the end. You are blessed indeed 🙂 Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 <3
Holy Cat! You have been blessed! Does that mean you don’t do bad stuff anymore?
Mom thought about taking me, but as I have not been out in the PTU since I came to the townhouse, she choose NOT to.
That’s so cool that you go to go to the blessing. It’s a special event, that’s for sure.