St Francis Prayer For Animals and Pets: People in many locations may notice anything strange at this time of year. For a unique event known as the Blessing of Pets, a procession of animals is led to churches, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and even horses. This tradition is practiced to honor Saint Francis of Assisi’s compassion for all living things.
Francis, whose birthday is celebrated on October 4, enjoyed watching the larks soar above his hilltop town. He permitted a donkey to move him and his early brothers out of their cramped hovel.
Francis dedicated a poem to God’s created life in his Canticle of the Creatures. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” Additionally, references to Saint Clare of Assisi’s small cat were made in testimony in the case for her canonization.
The fact that there are currently over 62 million cats in the United States is evidence of our continued love for all of our avian, furry, and aquatic pals. Even a cat named Socks lived in the White House at one point. Fido, the dog owned by Abraham Lincoln, and Him and Her, the beagles owned by Lyndon Johnson, are two other well-known presidential pets.
Having a pet can be a wonderful friend for people who live alone. Many folks find a furry buddy ecstatic to see them when they get home from work. Many elderly people have a purring companion on their lap.
Because animal communication is so fundamentally different from human communication, the link between a person and their pet is unlike any other kind of interaction. A man and his dog or a lady and her cat are two creatures of love when they are face to face.
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St Francis Prayer For Animals and Pets
St Francis Prayer For Animals
Good St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, you devoted your life to God by expressing a profound love for all his creations. You cared for the poor; you catered for the sick, and even preached sermons to animals to show us that all creatures are sister and brother under God.
We call upon you to help us follow your compassionate example. Let us treat each and every single living thing with love and kindness. Grant us empathy to embrace all creatures as member of one family and offer dignity to all of God’s creations. Invite us just as you invited all people, animals, plants, the environment and even Brother Sun and Sister Moon to give praise and honor to the most High.
We ask that you inspire us in the name of Jesus, to keep ever alive a sense of fraternity with all those beautiful and good things that Almighty God has created. And that you remind us of our serious obligation to watch over and respect animals in light of being one big interconnected family. We ask that pray for all the sick animals and pets, and ask God to hear the pleas of sick pets all over the world.
Amen
St Francis Prayer For Sick Pets
Heavenly Father, creators of heaven and earth, you made all that we see and gave man dominion over your creations – for that we are grateful. We thank you for the gift of our special animal companions who have brought nothing but love and joy in our lives.
We come before you today dear Lord asking for you healing power and mercies. We ask that you take away the suffering of our beloved pet (mention name here), and restore them to good health. Almighty God, make our special companion whole again; help them overcome whatever weakness of the body they may have, and they will join us in worshiping your name.
Whenever I see (pet’s name) playing/running/jumping around, I know and believe that they are singing praises in your name. Fill them with your healing light and rejuvenate their energy so they may continue to be living proof of your awesome nature. But most of all, give us a new understanding of our responsibilities so we may care for the environment as your Holy word decrees. This we pray trusting and believing in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen
St Francis Prayer For Our Dying Pets
In your infinite wisdom Mighty God, you created the universe and breathed life into our planet. Every living thing is a part of you, and we are your trusted caretakers. I especially thank you for blessing us with our special companions who bring so much joy in our lives.
That’s why it’s so painful to watch them suffer dear Jesus. You have been faithful and healed them numerous times over the years. For that we are grateful. But this time, we fear the worst for our lovely pet, we can see that the end is near.
We ask that you perform a miracle and grant our special family member a long, healthy life. But if you see fit to give them rest and take them away from us, give us strength to bear the loss. Help us understand they are not really gone from us, but instead drawn closer to you. And for every animal and pet lover out there who has to put their companions or flocks down due to disease or injury, grant them strength as they try to end the animal’s suffering.
Father, please grant our prayer through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi and watch over all animals until they are with you for all eternity – where we hope to someday join then in praising your Holy name.
Amen
Traditional Franciscan Prayer For Sick Pets
When an animal was ill in the past, a Franciscan friar would visit nearby farms and offer prayers for the animal’s recovery. After the prayer, he would bless the farmers’ cattle and then sprinkle holy water that he had brought from the friary over the sick animal. The precise prayer said by the Franciscan priest is shown below; the parts marked with a V were for the priest, and the audience answered with an R.
V: Our help comes to us in the Name of the Lord,
R: He who made the heavens and earth.
V: Dear Lord, please do not deal with us according to our sins,
R: Nor render judgment unto us according to our inequities.
V: For all humans and animals under Thy domain, Thou wilt save
R: O God, according to the measure Thou has multiplied Thy Mercy.
V: Thou wilt open Thy Hand,
R: And fill all animal with Thy blessings.
V: Oh Lord please hear my prayer,
R: Let my pleafull cry come unto Thee
V: May the Lord always be with you,
R: And with Thy spirit as well.
V: Let us pray. Dear Lord who offered the solace of animals unto the labors of men. Humbly we beg Thee not to allow our animals to perish, without whom our homes feel dull and empty. Heal your flock’s special companions though Crist Our Lord.
Humbly do we pray for Thy mercy so that all pets vexed by grave infirmity may be made whole in Thy Name and the Virtue of Thy blessing (make sign of cross over pet). Let them not be sick anymore, extinguish in them every evil spirit oh Defender of life and Redeemer of health.
R: Amen
V: We beseech Thee to kindly turn aside all scourges from Thy faithful and drive always all ailment and disease. So that all who have been punished for wandering from your path may be corrected and be favored with Thy mercies, through Christ our Savior.
R: Amen
Saint Francis of Assisi, for our Animal Friends
Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is 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 in You; our souls and theirs 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. From our souls to theirs goodness flows, touching each of us with the reflection of Your love. Grant to our special animal companions long and healthy lives. Give them good relationships with us, 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 prayer through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi, who honored You through all Your creatures. Give him the power to watch over our animal friends until they are safely with You in eternity, where we someday hope to join them in giving You honor forever. Amen.