BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Franciscan friar: Let’s begin our Blessing of the Animals by singing a hymn based on a song that St Francis of Assisi composed:
Opening hymn:
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice with us and sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Oh, burning sun with golden beam
And silver moon with softer gleam:
Oh, praise him! Oh, praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! William Henry Draper (1855-1933)
Welcome: May all God’s creatures remind us of Jesus, God’s Son, the Lamb of God,
And may our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you.
All respond: And also with you.
Reader: Let us listen now to the Word of God, in readings from the Book of Genesis.
God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth within the vault of heaven.” And so it was. God created sea-serpents and every kind of living creature with which the waters teem, and every kind of winged creature. God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas; and let the birds multiply upon the earth.” Evening came and morning came: the fifth day (Gen 1:19-20).
God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living creature: cattle, reptiles, and every kind of wild beast.” And so it was. God made every kind of wild beast, every kind of cattle, and every kind of land reptile. God saw that it was good (Gen 1:24-25).
From the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts (Gen 2:19-20). Jerusalem Bible
This is the word of the Lord.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
Franciscan friar: Your pet bears the name that you have given it. What’s the name of your pet? (Ask some or all to name their pet.)
Reader: Let us listen now to St Francis of Assisi.
A reading from A Mirror of Perfection.
FA:ED III 366.
St Francis said, "Every creature says and exclaims, "God made me for you, O mortal!" We
who were with him saw him rejoice so much, inwardly and outwardly, in all creatures, that
touching and looking at them, his spirit seemed no longer on earth but in heaven. And
because of the many consolations he had and continued to have in creatures, shortly before
his death, he composed the Praises of the Lord in His creatures to move the hearts of his
listeners to the praise of God, and so that in His creatures the Lord might be praised by
everyone
Franciscan friar: St Francis praised the Lord in his creatures like this:
Most high, all-powerful, good Lord,
yours are the praises, the glory, and the honour
and all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong.
and no human is worthy
to mention Your Name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures ...
Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
FA:ED III 367
I would like to meet you all, and ask you your first name. Then I will bless you and your pet in God’s Name.
I will conclude the blessing of the animals with a special prayer:
Let us pray:
Blessed are you, Lord God,
for all living creatures you have made.
You keep them in your care,
even the common sparrows,
and not one is lost without your knowing.
They remind us of Jesus, the Lamb of God,
and of your Holy Spirit, descending like a dove.
They glorify you, each in its own way,
and speak to us of your beauty and love.
May we respect them and look after them,
for they are your gift to us;
May we come to love you more through them,
and praise you, their Creator and Father.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
All respond: Amen.
Franciscan friar: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
and sing:
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship God in humbleness.
Oh, praise him! Alleluia!
Oh, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, three in One,
Oh, praise him! Oh, praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. William Henry Draper (1855-1933)