by Paul Ehrlich, Staff Writer
A light drizzle fell over the Blessing of the Animals held at Market Square over the weekend. The weather didn’t stop Reverend Sylvia Vasquez and the city of San Antonio from holding the ceremony, although the event was sparsely attended.
Reverend Vasquez is a third-generation San Antonian. Normally, she holds a Blessing of the Animals at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church on October 4th. However, on Saturday, December 3rd, she trekked through the inclement weather to bless the animals in Market Square, and to speak with their owners.
A calm presence amidst the barking dogs, the reverend chanted a blessing while lightly sprinkling animals with holy water.
While the animals blessed were almost all canines, they still were a varied bunch. From tiny chihuahuas in a baby carriage to a lanky dog dressed in a sweater, the animals were blessed in turn. Some took the blessing in stride, while others weren’t so mellow – Reverend Vasquez blessed the chihuahuas from a safe distance.
A few animals were even blessed via smartphone when their owners showed pictures to Reverend Vasquez. Honey and Ozzy may not be aware of their long-distance blessings. But the two pets received them, nonetheless.
According to Reverend Vasquez, Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of all creation. The blessing is to honor him, as well as the life around us.
She also said that “In the US, people are very attached to their animals. Coming together to bless the animals gives us a chance to talk about climate change and the state of the earth.”
After their pets’ blessings were said, many owners lingered behind to speak with Reverend Vasquez. While their words were quiet, the conversation was positive and passionate. Clearly, many people in San Antonio are fond of their pets.
Under a yellow tarp a bit further away, children and adults alike crowded around exotic animals provided by animal education and exhibition provider Once In a Wild. A bearded dragon lounged along with a rabbit, while a ball python and a tortoise were a bit livelier. While being lifted into the air, the ball python lived up to its name, curling up into a sphere while watching everyone intently.
While the exotic animals didn’t participate in the Blessing, Saint Francis’s presence was here, nonetheless. Children watched the animals with fascination while their parents looked on with interest.
Although the weather may not have fully cooperated, the Blessing of the Animals was a success.
People stopped their usual routines, instead choosing to talk about their pets with an empathetic soul and gaze into the eyes of a ball python. What could be holier than that?