Pope Benedict Blesses Two Lambs For the Feast of St Agnes (Pic)

(Click on pic for full pic)

I think this is so neat. From the Ratzinger Forum -
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 21 (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has blessed two lambs whose wool will be shorn to make shawls [the palliums for bishops are more like neckpieces, although originally they were stole-like!]for newly appointed archbishops to wear. The annual blessing takes place on the feast day of St. Agnes, a martyr of early Christianity often symbolized by a lamb. In the ritual Wednesday, the pope blessed the animals as they lay in two baskets. Each lamb wore a crown of flowers on its head. New archbishops receive the wool pallium on June 29. The pallium is a band of white wool decorated with black crosses that is a sign of pastoral authority and a symbol of the archbishops' bond with the pope.

Two of my Louisiana bloggers had posts on St Agnes today.

See Feast of St. Agnes and Saint of the day: Agnes of Rome
Today