Animals blessed in St. Peter's Square to mark feast of St. Anthony Abbot

(Jan. 18, 2012) The feast day of St. Anthony Abbot on Tuesday was observed in a special way in Italy by a blessing of animals in Rome’s St. Peter's Square. Presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, the animals included chickens, sheep, goats and horses. The feast of St. Anthony Abbot, considered to be the founder of monastic life, is celebrated not only by the Catholic Church, but also by the Lutheran and Coptic Churches. Even though he was an Egyptian hermit, his feast day has been marked in a special way in Italy for many centuries. The people mark his memory with a variety of vigils, processions, special blessings, parades and gigantic bonfires, along with open air celebrations involving songs, music and historical re-evocations that recount the life and miracles of the saint.