Do-it-yourself blessings and prayers for your pets:

[Cuban_Liberal]

St.Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, and October 4th is his feast day. Many Catholics bring their pets to church to be blessed on that day, but there is also a 'do it yourself' version, and also a blessing for animals who are ill:

‘Do-it-yourself’ 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.

For a sick animal:


Heavenly Father,
you created all things for your glory
and made us stewards of this creature.
If it is your will, restore it to health and strength.
Blessed are you, Lord God,
and holy is your name for ever and ever. Amen.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/francis/animal.asp

I thought I'd share these with all my fellow pet lovers.

:D

[Rowdyboy]

1. The Episcopal Church has a "Blessing of the Animals" each year

around the day of St Francis. Its a beautiful, outside service and all the pets get an individual blessing. One year a woman even brought her horse!

The last time we went our neighbor's two dogs and our one dog misbehaved so badly I'd be ashamed to ever go back!

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Hehe!

We took ours last fall, and the ferret was not well-behaved, and the mouse looked almsot drowned after he was sprinkled.

:)

[scarlet_owl]

3. Thanks for posting this!

I'm not sure if any of the churches around here have blessing of the animals services. It sure would be neat if they did, because I'd bring all my ferrets.

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Our parish does.

Our ferret was blessed last fall, although he seemed more interested in Father's cassock than he did in being sprinkled.

:)

[scarlet_owl]

5. Yeah, I can see that. My ferrets hate water.

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. Bring them down next fall.

St. John the Baptist will do the job, if your parish won't. We even have farmers who bring cows, horses, goats, etc. . It's pretty cool to see, actually.

:)

[Midlodemocrat]

7. CL that is beautiful!

My mother, who passed two years ago, adored St. Francis. At her funeral, the quartet played, Make me a Channel of your peace.

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. Thank you!

He's probably my favorite saint, too, just like your Mom. I love Make Me a Channel of Your Peace---what a lovely hymn.

:)