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An Order for the Blessing of Animals
(from Benedicite, omnia opera Domini)
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord: Grant unto thy people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of thee delight in thy whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Collect of the Day
for Francis of Assisi, Lesser Feasts and Fasts)
Reading A Bidding Not only do the animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea, they share in the fortunes of the human race and play important roles in everyday life. Animals also appear throughout the Bible as participants in the story of salvation and as reminders of God’s love for us and for all of creation. In the story of creation, it took two days for God to create all of the animals and, when God destroyed the world by flood, he took special care to save the animals along with Noah and his family on the Ark. The paschal lamb is the sign of the deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt and also the type of Jesus Christ himself who saves all humankind from bondage to sin. A whale saved Jonah from drowning; ravens brought bread to Elijah; a little dog accompanied Tobias on his journey and a fish provided him with healing and protection; and a humble donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem as a sign of his kingship over the whole world. Throughout history, as a sign of the fact that animals share in Christ's redemption of all of God's creation, animals have been the friends of God’s people. St. Francis of Assisi even preached to the birds and tamed a wolf that had been terrorizing the people of Gubbio. Therefore we pray for all animals and, invoking the intercession of St. Francis and all of the saints, we ask God’s blessing on these animals which are our companions. As we do, let us praise our Creator and pray for the grace to honor and care for the world which he has given into our care.
(Adapted
from
The Roman Ritual - The Book of Blessings) A Litany for God's Creatures God the Son, Lamb of God, God the Holy Spirit, descending like a dove, Holy Trinity, One God, the true Life of all, Holy Mary, who
cradled her Son in the manger of the ox and the ass, Holy David, shepherd
of Israel, Holy Elijah, fed by
ravens, Holy Jonah, rescued
by a whale, Holy Peter, called
to repentance by a rooster, Holy Andrew, the
fisherman, Holy Paul, spared
from the sting of the asp, Holy Jerome, who
tamed a lion, Holy Hubert,
beholding his Lord in a vision borne by a stag, Holy George, saintly
horseman and slayer of the dragon, Holy Brigid of
Kildare, patroness of cattle, Holy Sergius of
Radonezh, befriended by a bear, Holy Martin of
Tours, called to do God's will by the honking of a goose, Holy Bernard of
Menthon, whose dogs rescue the lost in the alpine passes, Holy Julian of
Norwich, whose companion was a cat, Holy Francis of
Assisi, who preached to the birds and tamed the wolf of Gubbio, All holy friends of
all that live in earth, and sea, and sky, For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it,
and for peace, health, happiness, justice, and good will among all its
creatures, let us pray to the Lord. For God’s mercy and protection upon all animals, and especially those that
are injured or abused, hungry or deserted, lost or dying, let us pray to the Lord. (Adapted from a prayer on AmericanCatholic.org)
[Name], I bless you in the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity who made us all. May you be healthy and live in harmony with all God's creatures. Amen.
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