by Marcy Stenstrom
Several years ago, we had a pet rabbit named Babbitt. Our two oldest daughters, aged 8 and 6 at the time, really, really wanted a pet rabbit and even learned all about the caring and keeping of domestic rabbits. Out of necessity, I also learned a lot about the care and keeping of rabbits. I also knew that if I allowed them to have a pet, it was going to be mostly my responsibility because I was the adult.
At first, the rabbit was terribly frightened of our house and new surroundings, new smells and new people. But, eventually he relaxed and began enjoying his new digs and the freedom to run around our house and perform glorious “binkies”, jumping and twisting in the air three feet off the ground. He was a good rabbit for several years but my children were not enthralled with cleaning out his droppings from the hutch tray or changing his hay and litter box. On some busy days, they barely stroked his head or long ears as they rushed off to school. I found myself feeling sorry for Babbitt. So every day I knelt down to stroke his super soft ears, I would talk to him in loving and consoling conversation, and I let him out for exercise. When he had an injury, I took extra caution and care. One time I noticed a half-eaten Hershey chocolate kiss on the floor beneath our kitchen table. I was sure he had found it. I stayed up until the early morning hours trying to get him to drink more water, eat hay, and pass some droppings. Finally, at around four in the morning, he jumped into his litter box and left confirmation that he would be okay.
This kind of care and keeping of God’s creatures was bestowed on us as the first humans given responsibility to do so. He blessed all the animals of the Earth to provide us with nourishment, clothing, assistance with work, and companionship. In the Old Testament, the only way to get right with God, atonement, was to offer an animal sacrifice at the temple because the greatest valuable offering to give was life itself. God’s plan continued with the New Testament in the form of a Lamb and a new covenant. God’s son replaced cattle, a pet, or a bird and became the ultimate Paschal Lamb. Today, we can still honor our pets (or any animals) by receiving a blessing on them. It serves as a reminder of God’s first blessing on all His good creation, expresses our abundant thankfulness, and demonstrates our love and care for all creatures great and small.
Oftentimes when we celebrate the feast day of St. Anthony or St. Francis, we also honor pets and animals because these men were inspired to provide great care for all God’s creatures and give us great example. Babbitt was blessed during a pet service at our parish years ago and he lived several more years after that. But when it was time for euthanasia, (Greek for “good death”), it was a reminder to me of the little precious gift of life that provided me with hours of calming comfort when I stroked his ears or watched him jump with joy even when taking care of him became difficult.
As we celebrate the feast day of St. Francis this week, let us remember a time in our lives when a pet or favorite creation has brought us comfort or consolation, helped us in a time of need or work, or simply provided visual awe and wonder.
O God,
the author and giver of every gift,
animals also are part of the way you provide help for our needs and labors.
We pray (through the intercession of Saint Anthony or St. Francis)
that you will make available for our use the things we need to maintain a decent human life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer source: https://www.catholic.com/