Pets head to church for blessings

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A man holds on to his iguana, perched on his cap, before receiving blessings by a priest in a church in Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters Photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A priest blesses an iguana in a church in Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A couple and their daughter wait with their dog to receive blessings by a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

People wait with dogs and birds before receiving blessings from a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A man waits with his dog to receive blessings from a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A dog waits to be blessed by a priest, next to holy water and a bible, in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A priest blesses a dog in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A priest blesses a rooster in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A woman wait to have her pets blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. The yearly ceremony to ensure the health of their livestock and pets by having them sprinkled with holy water and sanctified is known as the Benediction of Beasts. AP Photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A woman have her cat blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A woman holds a dog to have it blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A dog waits to be blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

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Updated on Jan 18, 2013 08:31 pm IST

A calf sits in a shed set up in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on the occasion of St. Anthony (the patron saint of animals) Day. St. Peter’s Square was filled with the sound of quacks, squeals, neighs, and moos as cows, donkeys, horses, ducks, pigs, sheep and rabbits flocked to the Vatican for the feast of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals.AP Photo

Pets head to church for blessings

A man holds on to his iguana, perched on his cap, before receiving blessings by a priest in a church in Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters Photo

A priest blesses an iguana in a church in Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A couple and their daughter wait with their dog to receive blessings by a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City. People take their animals to churches to be blessed during the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

People wait with dogs and birds before receiving blessings from a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A man waits with his dog to receive blessings from a priest in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A dog waits to be blessed by a priest, next to holy water and a bible, in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A priest blesses a dog in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A priest blesses a rooster in a church in Xochimilco, in Mexico City on the day of Saint Anthony Abate, the patron saint of domestic animals. Reuters photo

A woman wait to have her pets blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. The yearly ceremony to ensure the health of their livestock and pets by having them sprinkled with holy water and sanctified is known as the Benediction of Beasts. AP Photo

A woman have her cat blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

A woman holds a dog to have it blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

A dog waits to be blessed by a Catholic priest during the Day of Saint Anthony of Abate in Mexico City. AP Photo

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