|
The following appeared in
the THUNDER / ENLIGHTNING section, page
11, Pottsville Republican: Monday, 26 October:
First, Father Connelly organizes a protest
and curses the statue and owner and then says he blessed them.
Now he lets a dog drink out of the container of holy water that
he put on the ground when it should have been held by an altar
boy, deacon or lay person. The Catholic Church teaches that no
animal is permitted to drink holy water or eat blessed food,
only humans can. Connelly committed a sin for the lack of respect
for the sacred.
Frackville
The following appeared in
the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR section, page
11, Pottsville Republican: Saturday, 31 October:
To the Editor:
My name (although misspelled) appeared in Thunder / Enlightning
on 26 October. “Frackville” called in to subject me
to public rebuke because I had allegedly “let a dog drink
out of the container of holy water that (I) put on the ground
when it should have been held by an altar boy, deacon or lay
person”.
The caller asserted that I had “committed a sin for the
lack of respect for the sacred”.
I beg leave to approach the Bench in order to speak a word or
two in my defense, lest I be assigned a place among the wicked
and thrown into the lake of fire.
Here is my account of the incident. I affirm on my honor that
what I have to say is the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth.
On Sunday, 4 October, I held a “Blessing of the Animals”
on the lawn of St. Vincent dePaul Rectory, Girardville. A goodly
number of critters — cats, dogs and one rabbit — gathered
in not so solemn assembly, together with their human companions.
As I walked from the Rectory to the lawn, I had in my hands the
following items: a surplice, a stole, a ritual book of blessings,
an aspersorium and an aspergillum. In common parlance, the latter
two items are usually referred to as “holy water bucket
and sprinkler”.
A parishioner, seeing me carrying these items, kindly offered
to take the bucket and the sprinkler. He then placed the bucket
of holy water, with the sprinkler inside, on the grass under
the tent that had been set up in front of the statue of St. Francis
of Assisi.
I willingly admit that the ground is not an ideal venue for placement
of a holy water bucket. However, necessity has its own law and
it was intended that it would rest there for only a brief moment
until I had finished vesting and was able to call the congregation
to attention.
It was my plan to invite a little girl who was standing nearby
to hold the bucket for me while I would do the blessings. She
was thrilled to do so!
In the very short time before I was able to pick up the bucket
and hand it to the child, a canine member of the congregation
came forward and put his snout to the bucket. I cannot say that
I saw the critter actually drink any of the holy water, but I
think he would have if I had not intervened.
Snatching the bucket away from the over-eager puppy, I laughed
and made what I thought was an appropriately humorous remark.
I said words to this effect: “Uh, oh! No drinking the holy
water, please!” The people responded with laughter.
Then I proceeded with the ceremony of blessing.
It was a happy event. I think everyone, both human and animal,
went home with cheerful hearts. I think God was pleased that
we had thanked Him for creating these innocent creatures to bring
us comfort and joy as we travel through this vale of tears.
As to whether or not I “committed a sin” or “lack
respect for the sacred”, I commend my soul to God and my
conscience to Holy Mother Church and I throw myself on the mercy
of this honorable Court.
The defense rests.
I suggest that “Frackville” take some of his grim and
joyless sense of religion and trade it in for a sense of humor.
Rev. Edward B. Connolly
Pastor
St. Joseph Parish and St. Vincent dePaul Parish
Girardville |
Saturday,
31 October