I think I’ll respond to each of your points separately as they vary.
The whole topic of animals having a soul or not does not seem to address either the chruch’s blessing of the animals or the impact of St. Francis of Asisi (spelling) as the Patron Saint of animals and pets.
Before I get started on St. Francis, allow me to clarify the point that I, and those who are stressing this point are making. We are not saying that animals lack souls. To say so would be a complete disregard of Scripture and Traditional teachings. What we are, instead inferring is that the souls are different. Animals have a fully material soul that, after expiration, ceases to exist. While a human soul carries on per God’s Will. It cannot be denied that animals have not seen the Beatific Vision. They lack moral direction, rationale, and reason (despite any disciplinary action or training that may take place). Naturally one cannot think a puppy sinned for nipping at you, this is silly. Animals cannot sin, but likewise are not bound by virtue. I hope I clarified my point.
Saint Francis of Assisi has been greatly personified as the lover of animals and nature alike. It is indeed a common sight to see a statue of him in a garden, or holding a bird feeder, or with animals. Admittedly, we had one in our garden for some time until it began to show signs of wear. Saint Francis has certainly interceded, I’m sure, on behalf of many pet owners concerning their pets. And this speaks highly of his renown as a patron for our loving friends.
Now, to the point concerning the Blessing of Saint Francis upon pets and animals. I am unsure of what you are inferring by this. The blessing of Saint Francis deals with
life. Not death. The blessing is thus:
“N.(name of animal, i.e. “Smokey”, not cat/dog) may you be
blessed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. May you and N. (the name of the “owner”) enjoy
life together and find joy with the God who created you.”
Now, this says nothing concerning Eternal life. Now personally, I find the entire thing a bit silly, but I do appreciate that owners are so caring for their pets that they go to such lengths. There are also other blessings. I have found three, including this one, and none of them endorse the theology of animal’s attaining Eternal Life.
Some animals are as smart as a tack and other are as inept as a stone. One of my pets cannot find its way home from next door, but another will search the house for her toy, and another has mourned the loss of his friend. So yes I do believe that every pet that I have owned has checked in with me after they have left. They do have a way of communicating without words.
I do not dispute that some animals are intelligent and can, possibly, have emotion. This does not, however, change anything I said in my previous rebuttals. Now I am confused as to why you name three instances where your pets have displayed “intelligent” (or in the first case, lack there of) thought as reasons why they would “check in” with you. And if they were to be able to enter Heaven, why would they be ghosts? Why would they haunt their former lives’ homes?
I see a bit of a clash of opinions.
In a way I do believe that St Francis is keeping my departed pets until I rejoin them in the fulness of time. Further each day in my prayers I ask his help for them and for my ability to care for them. So I don’t think that it is against the teachings to include them in prayers.
For the sake of discussion I will, for this instance alone, act as if Saint Francis was keeping your departed pets. If this is true, who kept the departed pets before Saint Francis? Francis, while indeed divinely inspired I’m sure, is not Divine.
You go on to include that you don’t believe it against the laws of Holy Mother Church to include pets in our prayers. I assume you mean departed pets, if I made a mistake in assuming this, do forgive me. Do you mean to say that departed pets should be prayed for in Heaven? After they are dead? If so, why? Surely they aren’t in Purgatory as no sin has been committed for them to be purged of. Please clarify this point as I’m interested in what you mean by it.
I bring my pets to church for their annual blessing and have done so for years. Sometimes I even walk the church grounds and it grotto and when I do see my priest I do ask for a blessing for them. He never refuses the request. If this was against the teaching of God why does the church do this and have a parton saint for them?
No one is saying that blessing animals is “against the teaching of God”. Blessing animals is, I’m sure, a pious practice and the owners should be commended for seeking this. But again, as before, I ask you, what does this have to do with animals attaining Eternal Life?
Going outside of the bible it was Mark Twain who wrote to the effect that that more he learned about people the more he liked his dog.
This may be true, but it doesn’t help (nor hinder) an argument for animals attaining Eternal Life, salvation, etc.
It’s just fun to speculate on topics that no one has an answer for.