The Blessing of the Pets
They let us love them - and we do.
God's furry, feathered, scaly, or finned creations can be more
than just pets.
They weave their way around our heartstrings
to become our teachers, healers, and cherished friends.
Blessing of the Animals To Honor the Feast of St. Francis
October 4, 2009
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Prayers for All Animals
Almighty and Merciful Father, whose care and loving kindness
are over all thy creation, breathe forth into us thy spirit of
compassion and tenderness towards all creatures thou hast made and
in whom thou are the indwelling life. Teach us, O Lord, to
look upon our younger brethren as a trust from thee, that the day
may be hastened when men shall neither hurt nor destroy in all thy
holy mountain; through Christ our Lord.
--From The Liturgy of the Catholic Church
(London: St Alban Press.)
O God, I thank thee
for all the creatures thou has made,
so perfect in their kind--
great animals like the elephant and the rhinoceros,
humorous animals like the camel and the monkey,
friendly ones like the dog and the cat,
working ones like the horse and the ox,
timid ones like the squirrel and the rabbit,
majestic ones like the lion and the tiger,
for birds with their songs.
O Lord give us such love for thy creation,
that love may cast out fear,
and all thy creatures see in us
their companion and friend,
through St. Francis, who saw Your Beauty and Wisdom in all
Creation, Amen.
--George Appleton in The Oxford Book of
Prayer, Oxford University Press, 1985.
Prayer of St. Basil
O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all
living things, for our brothers and sisters, the inarticulate
beasts to whom Thou gave the earth as their home in common with
us. We remember with shame that in the past we have
exercised the high dominion of humanity with ruthless cruelty so
that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in
song has become a groan of anguish and a cry of torment. May
we realize that they live not for us alone, but for themselves and
for Thee, and that they too love the sweetness of life.
Amen.
Franciscan Animal Blessing
For all animals:
Blessed are you, Lord God,
maker of all living creatures.
On the fifth and sixth days of creation,
you called forth fish in the sea,
birds in the air and animals on the land.
You inspired St. Francis to call all animals
his brothers and sisters.
We ask you to bless this animal.
By the power of your love,
enable it to live according to your plan.
May we always praise you
for all your beauty in creation.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures!
Amen.
