New Orleans Archbishop Aymond: Our pets teach us to love as our Creator loves

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4)always reminds us about the emotional value of our pets. Is there any theology involved? St. Francis reminds us that animals are of God’s creation. They don’t have a soul or a spirit as we do, but they are of God’s creation. That’s why Francis talks about Brother Sun and Sister Moon. He found the wisdom and the creativity of God in all creatures. He believed that as we get to know God’s creative work and become friends with and close to God’s creative work, we also come to know the Creator. God can speak to us in many different ways, even through the simplicity and the dependency of an animal, so we ask God to bless them. Whatever the pet is – a dog, cat, bird, fish or even a snake – it gives us an opportunity to see God’s creation, to think beyond ourselves.

It’s kind of amazing that pets can teach us to be more sensitive to human beings. In their great need, they show us how to be attentive to others. For the most part, they offer us unconditional love and presence.

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Thanks Mary Jane for sharing!

Music Video - God and dog

The video can be seen at Prayers for Our Pets

The Cat Came Back

Honey when we first rescued her as an abandoned kitten

After almost 4 months MIA, our pet Honey has returned to the fold. The prodigal cat is back home!

It was quite an adventure for our wayward kitty. She went missing the day after my birthday in December and found while my father was in the hospital a little over two weeks ago. (Note: She was actually brought home a couple of days ago.) My husband shared a detailed account with me on how he eventually got her home. Suffice to say, that he saw a wild cat transformed into the sweet and affectionate cat we knew, as soon as she got home.

There are a few people that need to be thanked.

First of all, I truly believe my dear ol' dad helped me get my cat back. He knew how heartbroken I was about her being lost. Now that he is able to help his loved ones, he didn't hesitate us recover our pet.

My husband also believes St. Francis' intercession had a hand in this small miracle. My sister who also firmly believes my dad helped us, reminded me that my father had a deep devotion to St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. He had a big garden statue of St. Francis in a prominent place in room.

It was my father and mother's love of animals that all of us inherited.

Okay, now for the people who helped:

- My friends like Betty, who knew Honey would be found. She shared with me a St. Martin de Porres connection one morning when she walked home from Mass. St. Martin de Porres is another patron saint of animals.

- My homeschooling friends who prayed for Honey to be found and continually asked about any updates.

- Our neighbors who actually went beyond the call of duty in helping us search high and low for this cat! Jon, Barbara, Takeo, Wyman, et al.

- The security guards all over town who couldn't have been nicer when we posted signs and asked them to keep an eye open for the krazy kat.

- The many people who called us when they saw our Lost Cat signs all over our neighborhood. The last one, actually paid off. It was a good thing we never dismissed any call even though it seemed like a slim chance it was Honey.

It was a feral cat colony caregiver who called us. She was sure this cat was different than the rest. She called because she saw the sign I posted in the area where she fed the cats.

- My family who commiserated with me.

I know I am forgetting many, many people for their help and I'm sorry about that. We are very appreciative though.

And, last but not least my husband Dan who suffered with me when we lost Honey. He actually felt my pain and prayed, prayed and never gave up hope.

He is the actually cat-lover in the family.

New Blog - Prayer Requests for Our Pets

I have been getting prayer requests from other pet owners who are also missing a pet. With a lot of thought and prayer, I decided that I would start a new blog for this specific intention.

Prayer Requests for Our Pets

If you have a pet in need of prayers, please feel free to let me know.

If you would like to help out, I will be happy to add you as a contributor.

Thanks!

Our Pets

Our cat is still missing. What gives me comfort is knowing that Fr. Daren was kind enough to bless her when he was over this past Summer. My family and I are also comforted and very grateful to so many people who are helping us around our neighborhood, prayers from family and friends near and far.

I don't know if non-pet people understand the bond that forms between a person and their beloved animal. The animal really becomes part of one's family. When they die or go missing, there is a big void in the family. Right now as I write this there are fellow bloggers who are grieving for the death of their pet or a pet suffering from a serious illness.

I've had pets as a baby. My first pet was a Boxer named Furia which means fury in Spanish. Most of my pets have been dogs. But I've also had cats. These two animals couldn't be more different. Yet you have to love each of them for their own special qualities and personalities.

Honey our cat is a rascal. When she wants food she'll jump on my husband's back and screech. My husband also taught her how to play fetch with a toy mouse.

She loves my dog and my dog loves her. She has wanted to be friends with our older cat but our cat would have none of that.

Right now, my family and I are going through a very difficult time trying to find this beloved pet. But we know God will help us get her back, if it be His will.

A Loveliness Break

Our cat. I tell my boys, she can do whatever she wants...she's beautiful.

Heaven

Mahalo to my dear friend Laura who shared this via email.

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.

He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets." The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the man.

"Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."
"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?

Nope. That's hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."