Jan 18, 2014

With an oink oink here and a cluck cluck there, animals arrived at the Vatican and elsewhere on Friday to get a blessing. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals. Elsewhere in the world, according to tradition that dates back 500 years, people ride their horses through the narrow cobblestone streets of this small village in Spain to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires.

: A traditional Sicilian chariot with a horse is seen in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican January 17, 2014. Animals, including pigs, chickens, horses, cats and dogs, were at St. Peter’s Square to mark the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot, the third-century holy man who is the Catholic Church’s patron of animals. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

: A traditional Sicilian chariot with a horse is seen in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican January 17, 2014. Animals, including pigs, chickens, horses, cats and dogs, were at St. Peter’s Square to mark the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot, the third-century holy man who is the Catholic Church’s patron of animals. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

: A priest (R) blesses a dog outside of San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: A priest (R) blesses a puppy outside of San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: A man kisses his dog before his pet was blessed by a priest outside of San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: Pet dogs, Kitty (L-R), Toby, Luna and Ariel, are placed on a bench by their owners before they are blessed by a priest outside San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: People pose for a photo with their dogs next to a statue of San Anton (rear), Spain’s patron saint of animals, after a priest blessed their pets inside San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: Pet dogs, Kitty (L-R), Toby, Luna and Ariel, are placed on a bench by their owners for a photo before they are blessed by a priest outside San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, January 17, 2014. Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)

: A dog takes part in a mass at San Anton Church in Madrid January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

: Dogs sit on their owners’ laps as they take part in a mass at San Anton Church in Madrid January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)Dogs sit on their owners’ laps as they take part in a mass at San Anton Church in Madrid January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

: A priest blesses parakeets outside Madrid’s San Anton Church January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

: A priest blesses a dog outside Madrid’s San Anton Church January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

: A priest blesses a mouse inside a cage outside Madrid’s San Anton Church January 17, 2014. Hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals. (REUTERS/Andrea Comas)

: People gather around a fire during the “Luminarias” annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony’s, patron of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares, about 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Madrid, January 16, 2014. According to tradition that dates back 500 years ago, people rode their horses through the narrow cobblestone streets of this small village to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires. Picture taken January 16, 2014. (REUTERS/Juan Medina)

Images and text courtesy of Reuters

Blessing of the animals

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