Posted on 01/17/2013 12:59:39 PM PST by mgist
A loyal dog whose owner died late last year has apparently been showing up for Mass every day for the last two months at the church where the funeral was held. Tommy, a 7-year-old German shepherd, used to accompany his owner, Maria Margherita Lochi, to services at Santa Maria Assunta church in San Donaci, Italy, according to the Daily Mail, and was allowed to sit at her feet.
After Lochi died, the dog "joined mourners at her funeral service" according to locals and "followed after Maria's coffin" as it was carried into the church.
Tommy, a stray who was adopted by Lochi, has been showing up "when the bell rings out to mark the beginning of services" ever since. "He's there every time I celebrate mass and is very well behaved," Father Donato Panna told the paper. "He doesn't make a sound." None of the other parishioners has complained, Panna said, and villagers give the dog food and water and allow him to sleep nearby. "I've not heard one bark from him in all the time he has been coming in," Panna added. "He waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn't have the heart to throw him out—I've just recently lost my own dog, so I leave him there until Mass finishes and then I let him out." A dog lies near the casket of a fallen Navy SEAL in 2011. (The Atlantic) Examples of this type of extreme canine loyalty are incredibly common. In 2011, a fallen Navy SEAL's Labrador retriever lay down next to his owner's casket at a funeral service in Rockford, Iowa, refusing to leave. The heart-wrenching photo of the scene,..
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
There’s that darn blurry screen again.
Related threads:
Mass. church to offer monthly worship services for dogs, and barking will not be banned
When Your Pet is 'Left Behind'
Woman convinced her dog knows Jesus
Living with humans has taught dogs morals, say scientists
Man tells police Jesus and his dog told him to break into home
Good dog story. Heaven just wouldn’t be heaven if they didn’t let dogs in.
Yeah. I should know better than to read these types of threads.
That dog is a better Catholic than Gov. Cuomo.
Dog and church in the article.
Dogs are better people than people!
Sola Fido.
This reminds me of the story of Hachiko. They remade the story into an American movie, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. By far the most emotional movie I have ever seen. Hopefully, this doggie is being cared for properly. Nothing worse than seeing a dog with a broken heart.
He created the animals so He must have a great love for all his magnificent creatures. “Eye has not seen.....the things God has prepared for those that love Him.”
Based on His word I am confident we will see our beloved pets again.
That depends on how one defines "a better Catholic". Has any dog received a Catholic Mass in his honor? Bishop Howard Hubbard held one in Cuomo's honor.
I thought animals weren’t allowed in a Catholic Church; the blessing of the animals takes place outside (probably going back to Jesus whipping the people with their animals in the temple).
Over many years, we’ve had many, many pets. Multiple dogs, nine cats at one time. Forty-eight years, and I’m ashamed to say, I’ve forgotten a lot of the names. We had one dog named Fannie Mae Farkleberry; equally long names for many of the others. I guess we’ll be swamped with bunches of animals who will have to remind us what their names are.
Dogs rule.
Good Dog
Amen !! yes you are right.
I totally agree with you! And horses are there too. How wonderful!
Tommy at Santa Maria Assunta church
It is said that Seaman, the loyal Newfundland dog that accompanied Lewis and Clark to the west coast and back, lay on Merriwether Lewis' grave, refusing water or food, until he died too.
-PJ
GERMAN SHEPHERD PING LIST
This is a low-volume list………so don’t worry!
(Please Freep-mail me if you’d like to be on or off the list.)
Maybe he doesn’t want those homes. Like Greyfriar’s Bobby (even if there is evidence that is a made-up tale).
Thank you for the beautiful ping.
There better be dogs in Heaven.
“If dogs don’t go to heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went”———Will Rogers
That’s one of my favorite sayings. And I endorse it; no dogs in Heaven, then it cannot be Heaven, at least to the OldPossum.
Like in the old Twilight Zone when the old man would not go into “heaven” without ol Rip. Turns out that was hell and Heaven awaited him and Rip with open arms.
Like in the old Twilight Zone when the old man would not go into “heaven” without ol Rip. Turns out that was hell and Heaven awaited him and Rip with open arms.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.