For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C
On Tuesday Catholic faithful and animal lovers flock to church in Mexico City to receive blessings for their beloved pets. January 17 marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Anthony the Abbott, a fourth-century Christian. Saint Anthony gave his inheritance to the poor and led a monastic life in the desert with only animals for company.
January 17 marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Anthony the Abbott.
The old-age Catholic tradition was brought to Mexico during Spanish colonial rule by Franciscan monks and has been heartily embraced by animal lovers ever since.
[Father Felipe Vega, Catholic Priest]:
"There are other animals that we use to get food, such as hens with eggs and more, cows with milk. The faithful come and bless them with belief and faith so that they be more prolific and productive."
[Armando Flores, Catholic Pet Owner]:
"For as long as I remember my siblings have brought all their animals, cows, calves, dogs, all the animals we had at home to bless them. As Catholics we consider that all things we have should be blessed, thanks be to God."
However, traditional supporters say there's a lack of animal diversity in the blessing.
[Amalia Salas, Catholic Parishioner]:
"I was at the parish and there were just dogs, no other animals. We are losing our belief in the priests because we used to take our horses, lambs, cows which still exist. But now the priest doesn't come out to farms."
St Anthony the Abbott was born in Egypt on the banks of the river Nile to a Christian family, and is believed to have lost both his parents, who were very wealthy, at an early age.
He then chose to reject the life of luxury his heritage afforded him, giving his riches away to the poor in order to pursue a solitary life of spiritual enlightenment in the company of animals.
