Each year, one of Prairiewoods’ most beloved traditions is our Blessing of the Animals, which we hold near Saint Francis Day (Oct. 4). However, given rising Covid numbers, we have decided not to hold an in-person Blessing of the Animals this year. Instead, we are hoping to help you create your own blessing in your home or wherever you and your animal companion are most comfortable.
Click here to download a ritual put together by our blessers. It has several prayers and blessings that you can say with your beloved animal friend, a beautiful ceremony to be shared with your whole family. And while it isn’t the same as gathering in person (and in animal!) with a number of other area dogs, cats, ponies, bearded dragons, turtles, guinea pigs, etc., we hope that it will make up for that in convenience and calm. (Because even the boldest of animals can get a little stressed when surrounded by so many others!)
So feel free to download our blessing, set aside a little quiet time with your animal family member, and pray a blessing with him or her. We hope it will be a lovely time of bonding and blessing!
If you perform a blessing with your animal, feel free to snap a pic and send it to us by Oct. 18 for sharing on Facebook. We can’t wait to see how you make this year’s blessing special for you and your animal kin!
—Andi Lewis, Prairiewoods marketing coordinator