Blessing dogs and cats and other animals.

Blessing dogs and cats and other animals stems from the 13th century when it became a custom in Europe because of a man who left his wealth and privilege to align himself with the creatures of the world as part of his journey in life.  St. Francis of Assisi was enchanted by all of God's creation.  One of his friars recorded a sermon Francis gave to a tree full of birds after humbly begging them to listen to God's word.  After this, St. Francis, began a ministry to all animals counseling them to praise and love their creator.  St. Francis preached to the birds, cared for wolves and hens, and gave blessings to fish.  He used real animals when he created the very first, live, Christmas nativity scene.

Early legends have left us many an idyllic picture of how beasts and birds entered into loving companionship with St. Francis because he found in all created things, however trivial, some reflection of the Divine perfection, and he loved to admire in them the beauty, power, wisdom, and goodness of their Creator.  Francis boldly petitioned various government officials to enact laws against cruelty toward animals such as horses being beaten, birds caught in snares or dogs left to starve to death in towns.  He said, "If I could talk to the emperor, I would beg him, for the love of God, to grant my prayer and to publish an edict forbidding anyone from trapping our sisters the larks or from afflicting any harm on them."  Of course, this never happened and even today we still inflict terrible suffering on animals both wild and domestic. 

There are many active animal rights groups today who work tirelessly to bring about compassion toward animals.  God bless them.  St. Francis would be so proud and thankful of their efforts.

However, since those days, churches throughout the world in many denominations still honor St. Francis' deep love for all creation as they hold services blessing pet dogs and pet cats, horses and many other creatures that are of service to people in many capacities.  St. Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God's living things. "All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures." And there was testimony in the cause for Francis' disciple, St. Clare of Assisi's canonization that referred to her little cat.

Blessings are bestowed around the feast day of St. Francis, October 4th.  At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:

"Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land.  You inspired St. Francis to call all of them 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."

Many synagogues now have their own blessing of the animals' ceremonies, and, they say, the idea originated in ancient Judaism.  Also, many Jewish congregations schedule blessings of animals centering their ceremony around the second weekly Torah portion of the Jewish New Year, Noah's Ark.  Other churches and communities have blessing ceremonies too. 

Prayers for pets and other animal blessings:

Prayer by George Appleton # 171 from his The Oxford Book of Prayer (London and New York:  Oxford Univeristy Press, 1985), p. 63.

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 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 song.

O Lord give us such love for thy creation, that love may cast out fear, and all thy creatures see in people, their priest and friend, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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!

Prayer for the Animals by Albert Schweitzer

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends, the animals.  Especially for animals who are suffering; for any that are  hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death.  We entreat for them all thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them, we ask a a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.  Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals, and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

Take a spiritual journey through this beautiful collection of blessings, prayers and meditations about the creatures, wild and tame, that inhabit our world. These moving contributions about all types of animals-playful dogs and beloved cats, giant whales and powerful elephants, tiny insects and delicate birds-are drawn from many faith traditions, including Native American, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist. A special section also provides animal blessing ceremonies you can use to memorialize the loss of a companion animal, offer prayers for an animal suffering illness or injury or simply recognize the spiritual connection we create when we fully appreciate another member of God’s creation.

About the Author:
Lynn L. Caruso is an educator, poet and wildlife advocate. She has led writing workshops in Spokane, Washington, and served as a judge for the Northwest Writer’s Conference. Her poetry has been published in national journals and magazines

Blessing books and prayers for animals

To purchase this blessing book, other books of blessings for animals and prayers for animals visit our book supplier shown on unique online pet shopping & products home page.

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