MEXICO: MEXICAN PETS BLESSED ON ST ANTHONY'S DAY - THE PATRON SAINT OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.

Record ID: 862645

  • Title: MEXICO: MEXICAN PETS BLESSED ON ST ANTHONY'S DAY - THE PATRON SAINT OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.
  • Date: 17th January 2005
  • Summary: (L!1) MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JANUARY 17, 2005) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SAN ANTONIO ABAD CHURCH CROSS OF THE CHURCH LIKENESS OF SAN ANTONIO BELL TOWER OF CHURCH PEOPLE ARRIVING WITH BIRDS WOMAN ARRIVES WITH HER DOG TURTLE BOY WITH TURTLE GIRLS WITH DOGS BIRDS AT MASS PARISH PRIEST PEREZ DELIVERING MASS DOG VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR PETS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARISH PRIEST CONRADO PEREZ SAYING SAYING: "These people believe so much and have so much faith that we can say that they brought the tradition with them into the present." BIRD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARISHIONER, MARIA ELENA CAMPS SAYING: "I think this is something that the Lord gives to us. The joy that they bring to our homes, because they sing so beautifully." WOUNDED DOG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARISHIONER CONSUELO MARTINEZ SAYING: "Three years ago that dog was very ill with a fractured hip and we came here on this day two years ago and we saw a miracle because he walked again." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH PETS
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • City:
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Nature / Environment,Quirky,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAAK8BYFY1Q6A8KG28LXY3DM3SI
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Pet owners in Mexico City bring their pets to be blessed on Saint Anthony's day, the patron saint of domesticated animals.
    Pets, many of them bedecked with flowers, were brought to the church of Saint Anthony in Mexico City, Monday (January 17) for the annual blessing of the animals.
    Saint Anthony Abad is known by Catholics as the saint who learned to treasure an animal's love and wisdom and became the patron saints of domesticated pets.
    Parish Priest Conrado Perez blesses the animals and relishes the chance to please his parishioners.
    "These people believe so much and have so much faith that we can say that they brought the tradition with them into the present," he said.
    According to Saint Anthony's beliefs, all animals, as creatures of God, deserve to be treated with kindness and love.
    "I think this is something that the Lord gives to us,"
    said Maria Elena Cardenas who brought her birds to be blessed.
    "The joy that they bring to our homes, because they sing so beautifully."
    This year the church's parishioners brought their cats, dogs, birds and even a turtle to be blessed.
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