RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO CELEBRATE FEAST DAY OF SAINT FRANCIS WITH BLESSING OF LIVE WOLVES
THE WOLVES WILL BE BLESSED OCTOBER 4, 1:30PM, AT CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, SANTA FE
Protect The Wolves® says that Because of Humans, thousands of species will no longer give glory to the Creator by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.
”SANTA FE, New Mexico, September 29, 2016 – Two live wolves will be blessed by religious leaders in an interfaith display of support for saving the endangered Mexican gray wolf onTuesday, October 4, 2016, at 1:30pm. The ceremony will take place on the grounds of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, located at 131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501. October 4 is Feast Day of Saint Francis, Catholic Saint of animals and the environment.
The Feast Day of Saint Francis traditionally includes a blessing of the animals. In a famous parable of coexistence, Saint Francis makes peace with a marauding wolf after recognizing that the creature, who was terrorizing the city of Gubbio, was acting out of hunger and not malice. After affirming the wolf’s right to existence, Francis blessed the wolf. The wolf blessing ceremony will take place beneath a statue of Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio.
The purpose of the wolf blessing is to demonstrate the support of diverse faith communities in New Mexico for preventing the extinction of Mexican gray wolves and other endangered species. Pope Francis, who took the name of the environmentalist Saint, writes in his Laudato Siencyclical, “Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity. Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.”
Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister of The United Church of Santa Fe and one of the participants in the blessing ceremony says, “As demonstrated by Saint Francis, who saw even wolves as his brothers and sisters, God calls us to care for all creatures and all creation. This Feast Day is a good time to recommit to that care.” Rev. Carol Calvert, Associate Pastor of the Church of Antioch at Santa Fe, who will also bless the wolves, adds, “It is up to all of us to stand up and protect our endangered species. Unless we realize we are all part of this sacred web oflife, we too will be on the endangered species list.”
Fewer than 100 Mexican gray wolves live in the wild, far short of the 750 biologists say is essential to maintaining a genetically diverse population, and fewer than 300 Mexican gray wolves live in zoos and sanctuaries. Wolves help control and increase the health of elk and deer populations, and their reintroduction into ecosystems has been shown to restore a natural balance. According to a 2008 poll conducted by New Mexico-based Research and Polling, Inc., commissioned by the Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) and other conservation groups, 69 percent of New Mexicans support the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves into public lands, but this support has yet to translate into governmental action.
The Southwest Environmental Center helped coordinate the wolf blessing. SWEC Executive Director Kevin Bixby says, “We welcome the involvement of New Mexico’s faith communities in the effort to prevent the extinction of the Mexican gray wolf. Their support for Mexican wolves sends a powerful message that this is not about politics, it is about what is morally right.”
The wolves will be provided by Colorado Wolf Adventures of Woodland Park, CO. Ghost is four years old, and Spirit is three months. The animals serve as ambassadors at public events to help raise wolf awareness, and they are safe and friendly. A photo of Ghost is attached below, courtesy of Peggy Jehly.
All are welcome to observe the Blessing and meet the wolves. The event is free and open to the public.
Source: Blessing of Live Wolves