Blessing of Animals

A FRANCISCAN TRADITION
FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS - OCTOBER 4TH

Prayer For Our Animal Friends
(With permission The Prayer Pet Line)
Link to Pet Prayer Line

Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is a wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have.  Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of yours. They have trust in us as we have trust in You; We are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have.

( Here mention the names of the animals needing prayer )

Your goodness is turned upon every living thing and Your grace flows to all Your creatures. Grant to our special animal companions long and healthy lives. Give them good relationships with and if You see fit to take them from us, help us to understand that they are not gone from us, but only drawing closer to You. Grant our petitions through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi, who honored You through all Your creatures.

St. Francis of Assisi
Sermon to the Birds - c - 1220

My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple rainment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sow, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God.

Saint Francis of Assisi - c 1220

Biblical References

Animals are mentioned frequently in scripture, such as the verses below.

Proverbs 12:10,
"The righteous man regards the life of his beast."

In Genesis 9,
after the flood, it is mentioned five times that "I will make a covenant with you and with all living creatures."

Deuteronomy 22 and Exodus 23,
"If you see an animal that is overburdened, you should lighten its load to help it."

Job 12: 7-10,
"Ask the birds, ask the beasts and they will teach you."

A BLESSING FOR ANIMALS

The Roman Ritual - The Book of Blessings Approved for use in the Dioceses of the United States of America by the Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Apostolic See. 

942 According to the providence of the Creator, many animals have a certain role to play in human existence by helping with work or providing food and clothing. Thus when the occasion arises, for example, the feast of some saint, the custom of invoking God's blessing on animals may be continued.

Order of Blessing

Introductory Rites

Leader:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN

Leader:

May God who is wonderful in all his works, be with you all.

Leader:

949 - The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the fortunes of human existence and have part in human life. God who confers his gifts on all living things, has often used the service of animals or made them symbolic reminders of the gifts of salvation.

Animals were saved from the flood and afterwards made a part of the covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:9-10). The paschal lamb brings to mind the Passover sacrifice and the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 12:3-14); a giant fish saved Jonah (Jonah 2:1-11); ravens brought bread to Elijah (1Kings 17:6); animals were included in the repentance enjoined on humans (Jonah 3:7).  And animals share in Christ's redemption of all of God's creation. We therefore invoke the divine blessing on these animals through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. As we do let us praise the Creator and thank him for setting us over other creatures of the earth. Let us also ask him that, remembering our human dignity, we may walk always in his law.

Psalm 8

O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.

O Lord, our Lord,
how glorious is you name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.

O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place -
What is man that you should be mindful of him
or the son of man that you should care for him?

O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen
yes, and the beasts of the field.

O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.

The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

O Lord our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

O God,
the author and giver of every gift,
animals also are a part of the way you provide help
for our needs and labors.
We pray through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi,
that you will make available for our use
the things we need to maintain a decent human life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

THE BLESSING OF EACH PET (INDIVIDUALLY)

955 After the prayer of blessing, as circumstances suggest,
the minister may sprinkle those present and the animals with holy water.

"N.(name of animal, i.e. "Smokey", not cat/dog) may you be blessed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May you and N. (the name of the guardian) enjoy life together and find joy with the God who created you."

alternate form - useful for those of other faith traditions "N., may you be blessed in the Name of God who created you, and may you and N. (the guardian) enjoy life together with our God."

Concluding Rite

May God, who created the animals of this earth as a help to us,
continue to protect and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings,
now and forever.

AMEN

It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song.

Franciscan Spirituality:
An Invitation to Peacemaking
From the Life of St. Francis

Reconciliation
By:  Bro. Didacus R. Wilson, T.O.R.

There was in the town of Gubbio a fearfully large and fierce wolf which was so rabid with hunger that it devoured not only animals, but humans too. It was so fierce that the whole town was in terror, afraid to go outside the walls. Francis went out to meet the wolf, blessed it, and said: " Brother Wolf, you have done great harm to this region, not only destroying other creatures without mercy, but you even have the brazenness to kill and devour human beings made in the image of God. You deserve severe punishment; but I want to make peace between you and the town, so that they will not be harmed by you anymore and after they have forgiven you, neither men or dogs will pursue you any more."

The wolf indicated that it would accept these terms, and offered the saint his paw as a sign of the pact, " I promise that the town will feed you every day; I know that what you did, you did out of hunger." The town promised to do what the saint had bargained, and the town adopted the wolf, and fed him until the day he died.

REFLECTION:

Whether the wolf was real or whether he symbolized ‘il lupo,’ the murderer and thief, the story points out the need for the ministry of reconciliation whether by prayer or activity. Indeed, Francis’ whole life was marked by peacemaking, despite his youthful experiences of war. He was a peacemaker amongst the factions of Assisi, between sultans, kings and bishops, as well as wild animals. The prayer of reconciliation most people associate with St. Francis is "make me an instrument of your peace." Though this prayer can only be found in twentieth century sources and is therefore not an authentic prayer written by St. Francis. However, it does express, most poetically, the spirit of Francis’ life and vision. It is, without a doubt, A Franciscan Peace Prayer. So, the next time you pray this popular prayer, keep in mind Francis’ invitation to be a reconciler in a world often torn by anger, violence and despair.

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Focus on people’s good points. Tell all with whom you come into contact the good things you see in them.

2. Develop a positive approach toward life. Compliment more than you criticize.

3. Build a climate of trust and support in all your relationships. Cooperate with others instead of competing with them.

4. Use gentle, loving, respectful language dealing with others. They won’t hear your words if you’re too busy dodging your sharp tongue.

5. Take a genuine interest in the work and activities of others. Make a point to ask about new projects.

6. Listen patiently, with your heart, when others are talking. It’s Christlike to put aside one’s own interests for the love of another.

7. Learn how to refuse with a smile. If you have to say "no" to something, do it respectfully.

8. Put the devil of jealousy far behind you. Deal with your personal insecurities in some other ways, but don’t put others down to make yourself look better.

9. Be loyal. Never allow yourself to tear down the kingdom of God by destructive, behind-the-back criticism of others.

10. Do extra little things that are nobody’s job. Be generous by volunteering—especially for the jobs for which there is no great reward.*
Putting these all together is another way of being an instrument of peace in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi. Let us learn to tame too what is wild and violent within ourselves and the world around us.