‘The Saints are exceedingly loving and gentle to mankind and even to brute beasts… Surely we ought to show them great kindness and gentleness for many reasons, but above all, because they are the same origin as ourselves.’ – Saint John Chrysostom

Some of you may remember that back in 2018 I went to Medjugorje and heard the Lord tell me to, “Pay attention to the dogs.” The town has dogs that are walking around everywhere and when I heard the Lord say this, I saw a dog and followed it. The dog took me into a large field where I witnessed the sun dance.

Now I am one of those people who does not like it when people treat animals like children because I think there is a disorder to that, and disorder brings about chaos. I also know scripturally dogs can symbolize something bad or something good, but I think most dog owners know there is a loyalty and companionship a dog can bring to your home. And, like Saint John Chrysostom says we ought to show them great kindness and gentleness because God is their creator.

Many of the great Saints had a love for dogs. Saint Roch had a dog that so loved him when he was banished that the dog brought him bread every day. Saint Bernard kept and trained large dogs to care for pilgrims who were trying to get to Rome and for this reason there is an entire breed of dogs named after him. Saint Dominic is depicted with a dog because of his mother’s dream. The list goes on.

You may also remember that I had an incident with my dog Rosie back in 2019 where she bit my neighbor and how upset I was. The incident actually helped me to realize false expectations that I had and not to put my expectations on God. The incident had upset me so much because I felt that God had picked this dog out for me, and I called her my “God dog” and I couldn’t understand why God would pick a dog for me who would bite someone, so I questioned myself and what I heard. After this we sought further training for our dog, and she got substantially better over the course of the next year. She was a faithful companion to me, always by my side. She was especially good to my mom and dad who lived with me. When dad would pet her, it would bring him a quiet calm.

In 2021 and 2022 you may recall that there was much suffering happening in my life and in my home (as I am sure many of you have suffered a lot). The summer of 2022 I was at a breaking point, I had not only severely thrown out my back, I got that demonic sickness COVID, which though my family members did too, including my high-risk mother, only I got it multiple times and was very sick and I didn’t think I could take much more. I knew I had prayed to be humbled and to have my concupiscence crushed and that was certainly happening, but I also came to the conclusion that I was being cursed as there were strange things happening that I won’t go into here.

I remember sitting in church and praying curse breaking prayers. I had a Priest come to my home and re-bless it and me and my family. And a funny thing happened, my dog Rosie got really sick really fast and passed away.

At first I thought, “what in the world, another huge suffering”. But the Lord spoke to me with a bible verse that said;

“And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters”. Matthew 8:32

And the Lord said, “she is your God dog.” And though I was tremendously sad about losing her, I also felt she helped spare me. And I was grateful. My sweet Rosie was used by God to help to rid my home of what had been plaguing it. Though I don’t always understand Gods ways, I do trust Him and that His promises are true. It is bittersweet, but I am more confident than ever in the goodness of God. She passed away almost one full year after the death of my Father. Hindsight always brings more clarity and in looking back I can see God’s hand in all things, and I know how much He loves me.

The fact that she was born on the eve of the Nativity of John the Baptist and died on the Feast of Saint Benedict was not lost on me. I am forever grateful to have had her. I keep her paw print in my peaceful place as a remembrance of the blessings God sends our way.

Because these loyal creatures have been such a blessing to my family we ventured back into dog ownership during Christmas of 2023. Our new sweet girl was born October 1, 2023 the feast of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. She is vastly different from Rosie but just as sweet (except when she is digging up the yard). She is full of life and is the most excited to see me when I come home. She has brought a lot of much needed joy to our household.

I know the world has some heavy things going on but let us not forget to enjoy the little things and the creatures God created who are loyal and loving companions. I am once again heading to Medjugorje in May, this time with my husband and I can’t wait to show him the town and all the dogs. And for the rest of you out there remember, “pay attention to the dogs.”

God Bless all of you.

Prayer To St. Benedict

O glorious St. Benedict, 

sublime model of all virtues,

pure vessel of God’s grace! 

Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. 

I implore thy loving heart to pray for me (and my pet N_______) before the throne of God. 

To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. 

Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. 

May thy blessing be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids 

and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need,  in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. 

Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy 

towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. 

Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance any one who had re-course to thee. 

I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession,

 in the confident hope that thou wilt hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.

If you would like to purchase the Family Healing prayer book, The Queen’s Triumph, I co-authored with Ashley Blackburn, please click this link.