BIDDEFORD — As autumn arrives bringing cooler temperatures, a day many pet owners eagerly await each fall is set to make its return to Biddeford.

The popular “Blessing of the Animals” will be conducted at 7:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 in the St. James School parking lot at 25 Graham St.

The event is marked on Oct. 4 to coincide with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi worldwide. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the practice of blessing animals on this day is a revered tradition in many churches.

The Blessing of the Animals ceremony dates to the 13th century in the Catholic faith and is held in grateful recognition of the tremendous services given to the human race by the animal kingdom.

According to Dave Guthro, communications director for the Diocese of Portland, the Biddeford blessing will be one of eight scheduled events across Southern Maine in which animal lovers are invited to have their animal companions blessed outdoors in celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day.

“As prayers are offered, the pets will be gently sprinkled with holy water,” Guthro said.

Saint Francis of Assisi was known for his love of all of God’s creatures and the Blessing of the Animals remembers Francis’ love by invoking God’s blessing on the animals and thanking God for letting us share the Earth. The blessing also recognizes  and celebrates the important place that pets hold in people’s hearts.

Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but nicknamed “Francesco,” St. Francis was born in 1182 in the Duchy of Spoleto  in Italy. He was a Catholic friar, decaon and preacher who is said to have held the belief that nature itself was the mirror of God. He is known for calling all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters,”and even preaching to the birds.

A famous story passed down through the church is that once Saint Francis persuaded a wolf to stop continually attacking nearby villagers if they agreed to give the wolf some food.

The number of animals typically blessed during the Biddeford event varies from year to year, but in 2017 about two dozen dogs, several cats, a ferret, and a parakeet attended.

There is a strong connection that exists between the pets being blessed, St. James School students, their teachers and members of the community who show up each year for the blessing.

Last year, Olivia Keezer, a student at St. James School, brought her 3-year-old dog Chance to the event and was assisted by her mother during the blessing.

“We didn’t want to him to miss this,” Olivia said. “He’s a real good dog.”

A priest from Good Shepherd Parish informed the crowd gathered for the blessing that in the Scriptures, the act of blessing means the imparting of power or life and that the blessing of each animal, means that health, healing and life are being imparted from God for the benefit of the animal in its relationship with its human partners and that it solidifies the relationship between animals and humans.

Robyn Mezminatti of Biddeford doesn’t own a pet, but she got up early last year for the blessing and said she attended because her great-grandchildren who go to St. James School have a cat which they brought to the playground for the event.

“I had to go through everything we had stored in the garage last weekend to find the cat’s carrier,” Mezminatti said. “He’s pretty big and I don’t know how we could have gotten him here without it. But we’re Catholic and this special blessing means a lot to us. We love our cat Freddy and want him around for many more years. Hopefully this helps.”

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 or by email at [email protected].