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Religious Books and Articles
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The Rose of Sharon is not the average online “religious store” rather, it is a shop with a broad approach to religious material, including, importantly for many, the spirituality of animal care, or stewardship of creation, including, of course, animals. This religious approach to the Judeo-Christian biblical teaching that humans are given “dominion” over all creatures, understands that mandate as an obligation of “stewardship” over the gifts given by God, all life.
With this in mind, and firmly in conscience, we offer a selection within our various spiritual topics, of animal spirituality/theology. This includes not only pet bereavement, but stories and encouragement to see in the creatures of the Earth, the Divine light placed there by a God Who is Love. However one may understand creation beginnings…we see the beautiful end result in the eyes of one another, including animals. It is this we value and respect with humble gratitude. Additionally, we host "St. Ciaran's Critter Connection." Inspired by the Celtic Christian spirituality of love and respect for all of God's creation, St. Ciaran's Critter Connection began 10 years ago as an online network for animal welfare sites. Today, they are working in cooperation with The Rose of Sharon, to collect whatever they can to help others help animals. The mission of "St. Ciaran's Critter Connection" is to support the welfare of animals. They do this in small and various ways including promoting the spirituality of animal care. If you would like to support this effort, listen to our radio show, and donate your extra leashes, animal sweaters, food bowls, cages, etc. so that those who are adopting unwanted animals can be helped to do so.
To discuss the spirituality of animals care, and what animals teach you about God, visit God's Critters at: http://stciaranscritterconnection.blogspot.com and join in our weekly live INTERNET radio show at:
Most
people immediately associate
St. Francis
as the patron of animals, and he certainly is know for that. However most
do not know that many of the Celtic saints (whose missionaries spiritually
influenced the region near Assisi) are known for their great love and
affinity to
animals.
Others, like St. Melangell, are also known for their relationships with animals. St Melangell (pictured in a ceramic here) is the patroness of hares, having protected a wild hare from the dogs hunting it. The dogs, stopped and dropped at her feet as she held the hare lovingly. St. Brigid of Ireland is also known as the patroness of animal husbandry, particularly protecting of cattle. Her ancient holy well is adjacent to the world-famous Irish Thoroughbred Stud Farm. A co-incidence? Not in Ireland! St. Ciaran is another such saint. As a hermit, his friendship with the wild creatures who lived with him is well known in Celtic Church history. He is known for his close friendship with a bear, a wolf, and a fox. He is certainly an apropos patron of animal lovers in rural areas!
The
Catholic Catechism
states clearly that
how to trust God -- we are held in the Divine Hands with such Love
Above are Puca, our therapy dog, and Honey a service dog (who died Jan 08).
. "Animals, too, are God's creatures and even if they do not have the same direct relation to God that man has, they are creatures of His Will, creatures we must respect as companions in creation . . . Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible.” -Pope Benedict XVI.
above: Brian Boru, adopted from the East Stroudsburg Animal Hospital. He is a total sweetheart. below: Paddy Daly the cockatiel whistling Tchaikovsky to Kelsi the German Shepherd
FOR LOCAL MONROE COUNTY ADOPTIONS:
Camp Papillon Animal Adoption and Rescue
Pocono Animal Rescue (570) 476-1464
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Monroe County satellite, Stroudsburg (570) 421-6761 (SPCA is in need of dog walkers to volunteer to help--call them for info.)
Monroe Animal League, Stroudsburg (570) 421-7775 PO Box 23 Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570-476-8444 Please remember to support your local Monroe Animal League, they do such good work! To hear our recent expose of MAL on our weekly radio show tune in here:
(Note: Pet food collected through St. Ciaran's Critter Connection at the Rose of Sharon will be donated to Monroe Animal League Pet Food Drive.)
Click here to see who is currently in need of a home: St. Ciaran's Critter Connection Adoption
If you have a pet in need of a home and would like us to add a picture and information to our webpage, let us know ( RoseOfSharonShop@aol.com ) and we will announce it on our Radio Talk Show. AND, when you have your pet...contact Dog
E Stylz Salon & More
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“Animals are God’s creatures.
He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they
bless him and give him glory.
Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall
the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals. . . . It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals
to suffer or die needlessly.”
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