Emmanuel Episcopal offers pet blessing Sunday

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, corner of Broadway and Highland in Shawnee, will hold a pet blessing at 3 p.m. Sunday in the church courtyard.
People are invited to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises, turtles and other well-behaved pets for this special blessing.
Traditionally, the Blessing of the Pets is celebrated on or near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. While remembered for establishing a religious order, St. Francis is most beloved for his concern for nature, especially animals. Born to wealthy parents in the 12th century in Italy, he enjoyed the carefree life of a rich young man. Then one day, while riding along a road, he met a beggar afflicted with leprosy. At first, St Francis was repelled by the man, but then his heart was touched and he gave alms to the leper, kissing him as he did so. St. Francis was a changed man — he gave up his wealth and devoted his life to working with the downtrodden and the poor. 
Many stories have been told about St. Francis and his special ways with animals. It is said that he could talk to them. Perhaps the most famous story, told by Thomas of Celano in the 13th century, tells of how he tamed a wolf that was terrorizing the people of Gubbio. It seems that there was a ravenous wolf that was not only killing and eating the animals, but the people of the village as well. Francis took pity on the people and decided to go out and meet the wolf. Francis left the city gates and began to walk on. Suddenly, the wolf charged out of the woods at St. Francis, who called out, “Come to me, Brother Wolf. In the name of Christ, I order you not to hurt anyone.” At that moment, the wolf lowered his head and lay down. St. Francis explained to the wolf that he must no longer harm the villagers and that they would see that he was fed. The wolf nodded his head and meekly followed St. Francis into the village. The wolf and the people made a pact that the wolf would not harm them in exchange for food. The wolf lived for two more years among the villagers, harming no one, and the people fed the wolf every day.