Blessing of the Animals - Housechurching
"We are all creatures of one family." - St. Francis of Assisi
Yesterday, my sons and I attended a Blessing of the Animals ceremony at our local zoo. Today, for our housechurching, we continued this theme.
We began by praying for our own pets. We then began a discussion of animals in the Bible. We discussed the creation of animals in Genesis. We discussed Jesus' teaching that God watches over the birds and the beasts of the field. We discussed the lions that were in the den with Daniel and the animals on Noah's ark.
We then researched some legends about St. Francis of Assisi. We found stories involving birds and rabbits and fish and even a wolf. We agreed that these teachings show the power of God over nature and, as St. Francis believed, we are all creatures of one family. We applied this theme to our idea of how God takes care of our pets, how he takes care of the wild animals and all creation. At our recent zoo visits, Nathanael, who is nine, was busy rescuing caterpillars and frogs. We agreed that is a good illustration of what St. Francis taught about the relationship between God, people, and animals.
Lastly, we discussed the Biblical teaching that all creation praises God. Nathanael told me, "I knew that already."
My sons concluded our study today by drawing some of their favorite animals. Taliesin, who is eleven, created an entire collage of God's creatures. Nathanael drew his rescued caterpillars and frogs.
Yesterday, my sons and I attended a Blessing of the Animals ceremony at our local zoo. Today, for our housechurching, we continued this theme.
We began by praying for our own pets. We then began a discussion of animals in the Bible. We discussed the creation of animals in Genesis. We discussed Jesus' teaching that God watches over the birds and the beasts of the field. We discussed the lions that were in the den with Daniel and the animals on Noah's ark.
We then researched some legends about St. Francis of Assisi. We found stories involving birds and rabbits and fish and even a wolf. We agreed that these teachings show the power of God over nature and, as St. Francis believed, we are all creatures of one family. We applied this theme to our idea of how God takes care of our pets, how he takes care of the wild animals and all creation. At our recent zoo visits, Nathanael, who is nine, was busy rescuing caterpillars and frogs. We agreed that is a good illustration of what St. Francis taught about the relationship between God, people, and animals.
Lastly, we discussed the Biblical teaching that all creation praises God. Nathanael told me, "I knew that already."
My sons concluded our study today by drawing some of their favorite animals. Taliesin, who is eleven, created an entire collage of God's creatures. Nathanael drew his rescued caterpillars and frogs.
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