Are animals allowed in Mass?

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stjuderocks

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I went to Mass the other day at a parish that I don’t normally go to. to my surprise there was a dog sitting on the chair next to the priest. and the Dog stayed up on the alter throughout the whole mass. Although the dog didn’t move around a lot an didn’t make any noise, it was extremely distracting. I was wondering if the Catechism or any church authority has said anything about having animals in Mass. You would hope the priest would know not to bring his dog with him!
 
stjuderocks said:
I went to Mass the other day at a parish that I don’t normally go to. to my surprise there was a dog sitting on the chair next to the priest. and the Dog stayed up on the alter throughout the whole mass. Although the dog didn’t move around a lot an didn’t make any noise, it was extremely distracting. I was wondering if the Catechism or any church authority has said anything about having animals in Mass. You would hope the priest would know not to bring his dog with him!
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To the best of my knowledge there are no general rule about whether or not animals should be at Mass other than the usual laws of etiquette and decorum.

As such, it would be acceptable (and even necessary) for service animals (and service animals in training) to be present at Mass. But in general, other animals tend to scandalize people so not such a good idea.

But you can carry things to the opposite extreme so if the parish cat or dog happens to wander into the church during Mass it is probably best to ignore it unless it is attempting to walk around on the altar or something like that. 😉
 
I saw a lady with her dog in a pet purse one day. The dog was quiet through the whole mass, and well concealed in the carrier. I thought perhaps she needed the dog to be with her i.e.service type relationship 🙂
 
Catholic90 said:
Were they in the belfry? 😃
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They were flying everywhere. There’s all sorts of little nooks for organ pipes in that church. I expect they live in there and the vibrations drive them out once the music starts. Holy bats.
 
The Church I had my Wedding Mass at warned us not to leave the doors open otherwise the rabbits would hop into the Church. Apparently, they are hard to get to leave once they are inside.

More than likely the dog was a service dog.
 
stjuderocks said:
I went to Mass the other day at a parish that I don’t normally go to. to my surprise there was a dog sitting on the chair next to the priest. and the Dog stayed up on the alter throughout the whole mass. Although the dog didn’t move around a lot an didn’t make any noise, it was extremely distracting. I was wondering if the Catechism or any church authority has said anything about having animals in Mass. You would hope the priest would know not to bring his dog with him!
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The assistant minister at my mom’s church has a small terrier which follows her everywhere. You never see one without the other, except during the church services. This is not really responsive to the question, and it is an Episcopal church, but the dog is never present during a religious service or ceremony.
 
The blessing of the animals is this weekend at my Catholic Church. Lots of catholics don’t even know about it because it is at 9:00 am.
I have no animal to be blessed, but I have never seen this before and am excited to see it.
 
I’ve seen someone with a service dog once, that’s it. It was very quiet and laid under the pew the whole time.

In any cases other than that, I’d think it distracting and unnecessary to bring pets for no important reason.

Well, unless it was a blessing-of-the-animals ceremony, then I don’t see why not then 😃
 
StrawberryJam said:
The blessing of the animals is this weekend at my Catholic Church. Lots of catholics don’t even know about it because it is at 9:00 am.
I have no animal to be blessed, but I have never seen this before and am excited to see it.
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I wonder if they make house calls. I don’t think I could handle bringing three cats into church. 🙂
 
ProVobis said:
I wonder if they make house calls. I don’t think I could handle bringing three cats into church. 🙂
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My Catholic Church does it every year at this time.
It is on their big sign outside they use for announcements.

I remember them doing it last year, however I was at the Orthodox Church that day.
So I really am excited to see it this year. I know many more people now that I did not then, and some of them have pets that I would never see if it were not for this Mass.

I will think of St. Francis and hope I can manage to make it this year.
It would be a wonderful experience to see the blessing of animals.

Please continue to pray for me

Why not three cats?
I will bring my memory of my black lab that died with me.
 
StrawberryJam said:
Why not three cats?
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In general, cats to not travel well. At all. I will not be bringing my two cats, Lexi would be bound to scratch and bite. Lucky might fare better, but it would be extremely stressful for them, and me. And we moved this weekend, I doubt I could get them near the carrier again for a few months.
 
My pastor is a canon lawyer. His dog used to come to daily mass every day; he sat in the back with the pastor’s sister. He never came to Sunday mass. He was always very quiet.
 
pippin said:
My pastor is a canon lawyer. His dog used to come to daily mass every day; he sat in the back with the pastor’s sister. He never came to Sunday mass. He was always very quiet.
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Some of the hounds in particular do have nicer singing voices than some people.

In California, it is actually illegal to ask someone to show a license for a service dog. Anyone can legally take a dog to church, and be protected by state law, regardless of that dog’s actual function in their life.
 
stjuderocks said:
I went to Mass the other day at a parish that I don’t normally go to. to my surprise there was a dog sitting on the chair next to the priest. and the Dog stayed up on the alter throughout the whole mass. Although the dog didn’t move around a lot an didn’t make any noise, it was extremely distracting. I was wondering if the Catechism or any church authority has said anything about having animals in Mass. You would hope the priest would know not to bring his dog with him!
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I have a service dog, a border collie that I am training myself. I haven’t taken her to Mass with me although she might be a great help.

But on the altar? The dog was on the altar? Why would a dog need to be on the altar? This bothers me quite a bit. Service dogs are supposed to be trained but they are still animals and that Host sure looks like it might be good to eat and dogs have a very good sense of smell and I just get this picture in my mind of the dog gobbling up the Blessed Eucharist. :eek:

I have no problems with dogs at Mass. But I have a problem with a dog receiving Holy Communion. The dog shouldn’t be on the altar. That’s getting a bit too weird.

It was on the altar? :eek::eek::eek:
 
The church I go to has a blessing for pets once a year, I like going and seeing all the animals. Makes me think how it was like when Jesus was preaching, out in the open with people and animals mixed in. Also, I’ve been to churches in Mexico were animals were in the church, for the most part, people just ignored them. They’re, like use to it. Me being from America thought it differnt, but acceptible.

God bless

jesus g
 
Well, I doubt the dog was actually on the altar. It seems it was in the sanctuary (assuming that’s where the presider’s chair was located) but probably not on the altar. 😉
 
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