Photo: Araceli Martínez / Impremedia
Francisco Zetino brought his tortoise Anacleta to the animal blessing ceremony that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles performs every year on Holy Saturdays in Placita Olvera.
“ They gave it to me a year ago and it is the first time that I bring Anacleta to be blessed. For me it is very important because I am from Guatemala, and there we also use to bless our pets”.
After Anacleta received the holy water sprinkled on her by Archbishop José H. Gómez, Francisco said that she returned happily with her pet to her home in East Los Angeles,
“I ask god take good care of her. Anacleta makes my life happy and when I talk to her, she even dances.”
A wide variety of pets from cows, horses, pigs and goats and even Dogs of all breeds, cats, birds and some reptiles, dressed in festive clothes, were blessed in the traditional blessing of animals that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles carries out each year with the support of the Olvera Plaza Merchants Association.
The traditional blessing of animals returned this Holy Saturday to Placita Olvera, after being suspended two consecutive years, due to the restrictions imposed by the covid pandemic-38.
Archbishop Gómez celebrated this event from 1930, when he was named to occupy the ecclesiastical position.
“It is a very nice day because we celebrate the vigil paschal; and the first to realize the resurrection of our Lord were the animals. They gave testimony of what was going to happen the next day“.
And also, he adds that this blessing is very important because God loves animals, “and we have a very important relationship with them.”
The blessing of animals has been part of Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles since its founding in 1930, but the practice of blessing them dates back to the fourth century when San Antonio de Abad was named patron saint of the animal kingdom and began to bless animals to promote their good health.
The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, who attended the festive event, said that the blessing of animals is very old, and comes from the early days of the town, when the priest of Placita Olvera blessed the cattle of the ranchers so that they remained healthy and productive.
“Thanks to the Catholic Church for this tradition that is very important when we have pets in the house. They are part of our City and our families.”
When Olvera Street opened in 1930, not only were the animals on the ranches blessed, but pets of all kinds began to be blessed.
Bryan Rico took his dog Kardashian, who will be 5 years old, to be blessed in August.
“I have always brought her to receive her blessing, but during the pandemic it was not possible. Now I am going home super happy, knowing that it is already blessed by the archbishop; and I feel calmer because with pets you never know”.
Nilda Salguero was very happy that her parakeet Cruz Salguero, as she has named, has received the holy water.
“He is a year and a half old. She already speaks and calls me mom. Cruz Salguero is a gift from my daughter and granddaughter. We are Catholic, and we believe that the blessing is good for pets. I am already quite calm that I am blessed”.
Nelson García took his two birds Pancho from 12 years and Cali of 4 years to bless. “Pancho is very funny and Cali is more serious,” says Nelson, for whom bringing their pets to be blessed is an annual tradition.
Joanna Salinas came to the blessing of animals with her godson, a dog from 17 years.
“It is important that he be blessed because he is already an old dog,” says Joanna, who helped decorate a stroller where her godson was transported.
Sonya Ridout brought the birds of her 7-year-old Joudacy and Courtney Collins 9 years to bless. “Our pets are like our children, they are children of God and need to be blessed every year.”
He commented that he does not miss the annual blessing of animals.
“The last time I brought them was in 2019, but then the celebration was closed due to the pandemic. Now I am happy to be here again”.