Today, we finish our Season of Creation celebration on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Fr. Pat Brennan, CP, and his dog, Rosie, share a blessing of the pets.
La celebración de la fiesta de San Francisco de Asís marca el fin de la Temporada de la Creación por este año. Como es tradicional, habremos una bendición de los mascotas celebrada por el P. Patricio Brennan, CP, y su mascota, “Rosie”.
Transcript
Introduction
Hello dear friends. We are here to celebrate a couple of things. First of all, we are celebrating the feast of St. Francis, who loved creation including all animals, all people, and all aspects of the universe. We celebrate that today.
We are also here, visually and through this video, to bless your pets. I have my Miss Rosie here, and she will be blessed too. So let us begin.
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Welcome, dear friends, two-legged, four-legged, winged, finned, and scaled. We gather today to celebrate all of God’s creatures, and we remember St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Moment of Gratitude
We begin with a moment of quiet, giving thanks for the beauty of creation and the joy of the animals and pets who share our lives. We remember the words of St. Francis: all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all living beings are dependent upon one another.
Prayer of Blessing
With grateful hearts, let us pray.
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 them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless all these animals today…
Blessing for Pets at Home
For all of your animals at home, if you would like, put your hand on them—perhaps a cat resting on your lap, a great dane at your side, a horse in the barn, a cow in the field, or donkeys you dearly love. May the Lord bless them all…
Blessing Miss Rosie
Now I bring Miss Rosie here. Come, Rosie. Sit. We will bless you. Even if she is shy, we bless her anyway. Rosie, may you be blessed with health, safety, and joy…
Closing Prayer
And so, dear friends, let us go in peace, remembering the example of St. Francis, who saw the divine in the eyes of a bird, a wolf, and even a blade of grass. May we honor the bond we share with all living beings, and may we walk gently upon this earth. Amen.
God bless you all, and happy feast of St. Francis. Thank you, dear God, for all the beauty of the earth and all creation that surrounds us.
Amen.
