A blessing of animals at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, in New York, October 1, 2023. LEONARDO MUNOZ / AFP
A mounted police horse waits on the sidewalk, a dog from the canine squad pulls on its leash. On Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan, the Marble Church met this Sunday in its square for the blessing of the animals. Klara Hendrick, who usually comes to the office alone, came with Rosa the turtle. She is certain that the animal did not miss a minute of the sermon because she saw it stick its neck out and turn its head towards a dog next to it when the pastor called for being open to people who are not not like us.
“He understood everything. » Il ? “Can I ask you Rosa’s pronouns?” “, asks Stan Williams, in charge of marketing for this Protestant parish of the Reformed Church and whose jacket lapel is decorated with all kinds of brooches of butterflies, birds, frogs. « Il, Rosa’s owner replies. Thanks for asking, that’s really thoughtful of you. »
“Stupidly I would have asked if it was a male or a female, I’m so old school,” blurted out another parishioner, a little embarrassed. “You have to be sensitive” Stan Williams bounces. Besides Rosa, more than a hundred animals made the trip. There are dogs of all sizes, a canary, a cat, children with stuffed animals, people taking out their phones and asking Michael Bos or Elise Brown, the pastors of Marble Church, to bless them. Pictures.
The decline of faith
What could be more natural ? The blessing of animals is an extension of the attitude of Saint Francis of Assisi, we explain in church. Several parishes also organize them in October in New York, such as the Saint John the Divine Cathedral which, the previous Sunday, saw a camel and ostriches pass by among the thousand blessed animals. At the Marble Church, the blessing of animals, despite its appearance of an old Christian tradition, has only taken place for six years and is one of the initiatives through which the parish attempts to establish links with those who are far from religion.
The decline of faith is one of the most striking phenomena in the United States over the last thirty years. Three in ten American adults say they have no religious affiliation, a number that has never been higher and which rises to 43% among those under 30. “It’s important that we do this in the street in front of the church, and not inside. There are people who are intimidated by entering a church…”, observe Stan Williams. “My two dogs are in there,” says a very chic blonde lady, pointing to her black leather handbag, which she explains contains the ashes. People who have pets are often alone, the parish found, and blessings are also a way to reach them.
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2023-10-14 03:45:07
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