This was a first for me-your thoughts..Dogs and Church

  • Thread starter Thread starter canne
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

canne

Guest
I really am thrown by a situtaion that happened at Mass and would be interested in your thoughts. A woman came in to Mass carrying a large “purse” it looked a bit heavy. It sat at her feet during Mass and I didn’t give it a second thought. After mass when talking to Sister, the woman came over to say Hello and Sister says…“let me see those babies”…I was kinda of confused and looked to the large bag and Yup inside were two little DOGS!
I was shocked. I mean really surprised! After mass Father says “Oh you brought your babies.” and shes says…“well, I want them to be holy.” ha ha. I was blown away. Am I the only one who thinks little dogs ( no matter how well behaved) do not belong at Mass-with the exception of course when Pets may be blessed?🤷
Our priest is new, about two months…very sweet, very joyful. Our last priest was quite strict and very reverant-I do not think she would have brought her dogs to Church then. I mentioned it to another person I know and she said something to the effect that they were better behaved than some children at Mass(agreed). But dogs?!
 
There is a story of a pastor who had a tiny dog that would sit by his chair during the entire mass. It would not move until mass was over. It wasn’t my parish but was told to me by one of the older parishioners when I was visiting.
 
If they cause a disturbance, then the situation should be looked into.

I went to Honduras over the summer for missionary work, and honestly the doors at Mass stay open and stray dogs wander freely in and out of the church practically throughout the Mass (we were in a rural area). occasionally one would be shooed out because it was making a disturbance but other than that I (and no one else around me or our group) saw any problem with it and indeed acted as if they were invisible. In the case of a totally silent dog sitting in a purse or bag, I see even less of a problem. after all, you yourself said you did not even know they existed until someone pointed them out.
 
I don’t even know what to call this, but this is an example of a phenomenon that I am noticing all over the place - I’m not even sure what it is that’s going on, but I am also bothered by the idea of animals in public buildings, other than working animals - and I am bothered that people treat them as though they were backward children, rather than as animals.

“Babies?” No, these are not babies. They are dogs. They are not going to grow up and go to college. They are also not capable of becoming “holy” - they don’t have souls, and they will not experience any kind of an after-life. Don’t worry - this doesn’t bother them. They have no concept of the future, and they cannot comprehend death.
 
I believe the Sacrifice of the Mass is about worshiping God and is for people. Our of respect for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, I would not want dogs in the church. They can wait outside, or stay home.

I also agree that the idea of our pets being our children shouldn’t be encouraged by the priest. Pets can be good friends and companions, we can love them, but they are not the same as our children. At least they shouldn’t be.

Dennis Prager, some of you may know on the radio, told of a friend who lost her small son to Lukemia. A well meaning woman told her that she knew how she felt because she recently lost her beloved dog to cancer. The friend said to her, “Did you wish it could have been you that had the cancer instead of your dog?” She said, “Well, No.” The woman kindly said, that every day she spent at the hospital with her baby dying, she wished it could be her, instead of her baby. That ended the comparison.
 
Seeing eye dogs, yes.

Pets, no.

Some people have no sense-- your priest included it seems.
 
I think it’s inappropriate and I wouldn’t dream of bringing an animal to church with me. Jesus is quite enough company for me at church, thank you. But as long as the dogs were silent and nobody even knew they were there until someone said something, I can’t say that it’s necessarily “wrong.” 🤷

I was cantor for a wedding once where the happy couple had their dog with them, dressed in a little doggy-tux. But at least they didn’t bring him into the church itself, only into the narthex afterwards for a couple of pictures. He didn’t try to drink the holy water (they had one of those combination font/baptismal pools at the back of the church), and he didn’t make any messes, so I guess that was OK. :rolleyes: And he didn’t howl at my singing…
 
It sounds like the woman is a little off. She calls the dogs “babies” and wants them to be “holy.” I think that the it is okay to tolerate some of this behavior if the pet owner is a little bit crazy. Just don’t encourage it too much or they might want their dog to receive Communion also.
 
Pope John Paul II said that animals do have souls.
This is not to say they should be at mass but there are exceptions, like the quiet little priest’s dog. St. Clare’s little cat was mentioned somewhere in the process of her canonization. St. Francis really and truly communicated with animals.
👍
 
Animals souls are not immortal. Animals are not made in the image and likeness of God. They are our responsibility to care for, but are not humans.
 
jmcrae said:
will not experience any kind of an after-life.
Click to expand...
We don’t know this for sure. Scripture clearly states that all things are possible for God. Perhaps He will decide to reward a Saint for some particular act by reanimating that Saint’s loyal pet? Maybe not, but I don’t think that we can say for sure. I know theologians have been divided on this issue.

I think (my personal belief) is that there will be animals in Heaven (even if not the ones we knew on earth) because Scripture clearly states that God created the animals GOOD. And we know that Heaven is a place full of good things.

Andy
 
I know they’re not in the image and likeness of God. However, they are God’s beloved creatures and there are many references to them being around “later on”. I pray so. God can do anything.
😉
 
jmcrae said:
I don’t even know what to call this, but this is an example of a phenomenon that I am noticing all over the place - I’m not even sure what it is that’s going on, but I am also bothered by the idea of animals in public buildings, other than working animals - and I am bothered that people treat them as though they were backward children, rather than as animals.

“Babies?” No, these are not babies. They are dogs. They are not going to grow up and go to college. They are also not capable of becoming “holy” - they don’t have souls, and they will not experience any kind of an after-life. Don’t worry - this doesn’t bother them. They have no concept of the future, and they cannot comprehend death.
Click to expand...
👍 👍

~Liza
 
:hmmm: Actually, what I find most interesting in the op is the statement that 'I mentioned it to another person I know and she said something to the effect that they were better behaved than some children at Mass(agreed). But dogs?!"

Weird maybe…but true as well…🤷
 
americancatholic.org/Mess…3/Feature2.asp

This is a Catholic website (posted before on CAF) that gives me hope I’ll see my baby Geisha (kitty) and other beloved creatures and all pets I’ve ever had in heaven…
Doesn’t matter what they comprehend or not. Of course they’re not human, but they are definitely God’s beloved creatures

From a former CAF Post:

"I think it was Father Benedict Groeschel who said that “Whatever is good and beautiful and brings you great joy on this earth will be with you in heaven.”
👍 👍 👍
 
Cathryn said:
I believe the Sacrifice of the Mass is about worshiping God and is for people. Our of respect for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, I would not want dogs in the church. They can wait outside, or stay home.
Click to expand...
Did anyone here of the story of a group of police dogs who were sent ahead of Pope John Paul II and his entourage to “sniff out” a church before an official visit? These dogs were also search and rescue dogs who were trained on the human scent. Upon being released into the church, they immediately made their way to the sanctuary and made a huge fuss. Upon catching up to them, the officers were amazed to find the dogs practically prostrate at the tabernacle, their eyes completely fixed on it.

michaeljournal.org/cowley.htm

It is surprising what dogs can sense that we humans sometimes cannot.
 
Dogs were not created to know, love, and serve God and live forever with him in heaven. There seems to be an effort by some in society to blurr the distinction between what a person is an an animal.
 
Cathryn said:
Dogs were not created to know, love, and serve God and live forever with him in heaven. There seems to be an effort by some in society to blurr the distinction between what a person is an an animal.
Click to expand...
This is very true. I love my dogs, but sheesh, they are not people. I think it stems from Hollywood. So many actors and actresses are contributors and spokesman for PETA, but almost all of them are pro-abortion. :confused: This is baffling for sure, as is most of this thread.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top