God bless us all: Dogs and birds receive blessings on St. Anthony’s day

A priest blesses a dog during the feast of Saint Anthony, Spain's patron saint of animals, in Barcelona. The feast is celebrated each year in many parts of Spain and people bring their pets to churches to be blessed. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Updated on: Jan 18, 2017 8:15 PM IST

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A priest blesses a dog during the feast of Saint Anthony, Spain's patron saint of animals, in Barcelona. The feast is celebrated each year in many parts of Spain and people bring their pets to churches to be blessed. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

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A rooster receives a blessing from a priest on the day of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of domestic animals, in Xochimilco in Mexico City. (Carlos Jasso/REUTERS)

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A woman buys souvenirs after a holy mass outside San Anton Church in Madrid, Spain. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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A man holds his pigeon after a priest blessed it outside San Anton Church in the neighbourhood of Churriana, in Malaga, Spain. (Jon Nazca/REUTERS)

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A dog sits next to its owner as it receives blessings from a priest on the day of Saint Anthony, in Xochimilco in Mexico City, Mexico. (Carlos Jasso/REUTERS)

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A dog looks at a parrot as it receives blessings from a priest on the day of Saint Anthony in Mexico City, Mexico. (Carlos Jasso/REUTERS)

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People with their pats receive blessings from a priest on the day of Saint Anthony, in Xochimilco in Mexico City, Mexico. (Carlos Jasso/REUTERS)

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A girl holds a pony, Rumbera, after a priest blessed it, outside San Anton Church in the neighbourhood of Churriana, in Malaga, Spain. (Jon Nazca/REUTERS)

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Children watch birds next to a woman and her dog, after a priest blessed them, outside San Anton Church in the neighbourhood of Churriana, in Malaga, Spain. (Jon Nazca/REUTERS)

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Dogs are blessed by a priest outside San Anton Church in the neighbourhood of Churriana, in Malaga, Spain. (Jon Nazca/REUTERS)

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A boy holds a Guinea pig before having it blessed by a priest in Churriana, near Malaga , marking San Anton Abad's Day (Saint Anthony). (Jorge Guerrero/AFP)

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A man holds a dove before having it blessed by a priest in Churriana, near Malaga. (Jorge Guerrero/AFP)

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A dog stands on top of a chair in San Anthony's church during the feast of Saint Anthony, Spain's patron saint of animals, in Madrid. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)

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A woman poses for a picture holding her dog, outside San Anthony's church during the feast of Saint Anthony. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)

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A woman holds her dog in San Anthony's church during the feast of Saint Anthony. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)

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A priest blesses a dog during the feast of Saint Anthony, in Madrid. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP)

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Residents in traditional dress parade in Vilanova i la Geltru, near Barcelona, marking San Anton Abad's Day (Saint Anthony), the patron saint of animals. (Lluis Gene/AFP)

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People hold their pets as a priest (R) blesses the animals in Vilanova i la Geltru, near Barcelona. (Lluis Gene/AFP)

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A priest blesses a dog after a mass outside San Anton Church in Madrid, Spain. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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A dog sits in a push-chair after a mass outside San Anton Church in Madrid, Spain. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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Two women hold their dogs during a mass inside San Anton Church in Madrid, Spain. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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A dog sits during a mass inside San Anton Church in Madrid. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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A dog walks after a mass outside San Anton Church in Madrid. (Juan Medina/REUTERS)

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A bulldog waits to be blessed by a priest in Mijas, near Malaga on San Anton Abad's Day (Saint Anthony). (JOrge Guerrero/AFP)

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A woman holds her dog as they wait to be blessed by a priest in Mijas on San Anton Abad's Day (Saint Anthony). (JOrge Guerrero/AFP)

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Dogs are blessed by a priest holding a carnation in Mijas on San Anton Abad's Day (Saint Anthony). (JOrge Guerrero/AFP)

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A woman carries her pet outside the San Nicolas church during the feast of St. Anthony, Spain's patron saint of animals, in Pamplona, northern Spain. (Alvaro Barrientos/AP)