After mentioning the Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate last week, we couldn’t help but go to its occurrence this Saturday in Rome, where it is traditionally held at the church of Sant’Eusebio by Piazza Vittorio on the Esquilino hill.
What a cacophony! Cats, dogs, and birds mostly, competing with the priest’s sermon coming over the PA system. And a three ringed circus as well… occasionally a little furry friend managed to break free and would proceed to tear around between the pews causing sheer pandemonium and spreading general mayhem by taunting its still securely leashed brethren.
At mass’ end, the priest marched humans and animals alike out of the church and under the front portico, where after some singing (and general howling and meowing) the pets and their owners were blessed one by one. In absentia too! One lady brought a photo album with pictures of her 18 cats and asked the priest if blessing it would count (he said yes), herding cats being notoriously difficult.
– Contributed by GB (see bio), Editor, Italian Notebook.
