Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Can a priest bless animals	John	Sunday, September 26, 2010
Question: One day next week our parish priest and pastor announced today, at the close of Mass, that he would be blessing all animals brought to him out in the parking lot of the Church. My questions is, Is it proper for a Priest to bless the dogs, cats, or other pets, that are owned by his parisheners? Animals do not have a soul, so is this within the Teaching and Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church? I am somewhat confused, John.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear John: Yes, priests can bless animals. In fact, the official Book of Blessings contains an "Order for the Blessing of Animals." It is true that animals do not have an immortal soul, a rational soul, but neither does many things priests are allowed to bless, such as cars, houses, church buildings, altars, sacred vessels, rosaries, scapulars, or medals. Almost anything (that does not offend the faith) can be blessed. It is a tradition to bless animals on or near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, considered a patron of animals, which is October 4th. Why do we bless animals? The Catholic Encyclopedia (1907) article, Blessing, explains: The lower animals which minister to the reasonable requirements of the human family may have blessings invoked upon them in order that the measure of their usefulness may be increased. Thus, birds of the air, beasts of the field, bees that afford such examples of industry to man, horses and oxen broken to the yoke, and. other beasts of burden are included in the formularies of the Ritual. The Creator is invoked to grant to the brute strength and health to bear his burden and, if attacked by sickness or plague, to obtain deliverance. The Book of Blessings explains it this way: According to the providence of the Creator, many animals have a certain tole to play in human existence by helping with work or providing food and clothing. Thus when the occasion arises, for example, the feast of some saint, the custom of invoking God's blessing on animals may be continued. By extension this also applies to pets as pets are also useful to humans emotionally, especially in modern times, even though they are not "working" animals. The usual blessing on the Feast of St. Francis is a modified version of the Order of the Blessing of Animals mentioned above. Here is the blessing from the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers by Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, NCCB/USCC, 1989, The blessing below, or the full Order of the Blessing of Animals may be done by a priest, deacon, or layman: All make the sign of the cross. The leader begins: Wonderful are all God's works. Blessed be the name of the Lord. All respond: Now and for ever. The leader may use these or similar words to introduce the blessing: The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the ways of human beings. They have a part in our lives. Francis of Assisi recognized this when he called the animals, wild and tame, his brothers and sisters. Remembering Francis' love for these brothers and sisters of ours, we invoke God's blessing on these animals, and we thank God for letting us share the earth with all the creatures. Then the Scripture is read: Listen to the words of the book of Genesis: [In the beginning,] God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came and morning followed-the fifth day. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. (Genesis 1:20-25) (Alternate reading such as Isaiah 11:6-10.) The reader concludes: This is the Word of the Lord. All respond: Thanks be to God. After a time of silence, those present offer prayer of intercession for their animals and for all creatures. After the Lord's Prayer, the leader invites all to hold or place their hands on their animals in blessing: O God, you have done all things wisely; in your goodness you have made us in your image and given us care over other living things. Reach out with your right hand and grant that these animals may serve our needs and that your bounty in the resources of this life may move us to seek more confidently the goal of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. All make the sign of the cross as the leader concludes: May God, who created the animals of this earth as a help to us, continue to protect and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings, now and for ever. R. Amen. The blessing may conclude with a song such as "The Old Hundreth" (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow), "All Creatures of Our God and King." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Can a priest bless animals

John

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Question:

One day next week our parish priest and pastor announced today, at the close of Mass, that he would be blessing all animals brought to him out in the parking lot of the Church.

My questions is,

Is it proper for a Priest to bless the dogs, cats, or other pets, that are owned by his parisheners? Animals do not have a soul, so is this within the Teaching and Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church?

I am somewhat confused,

John.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear John:

Yes, priests can bless animals. In fact, the official Book of Blessings contains an "Order for the Blessing of Animals."

It is true that animals do not have an immortal soul, a rational soul, but neither does many things priests are allowed to bless, such as cars, houses, church buildings, altars, sacred vessels, rosaries, scapulars, or medals. Almost anything (that does not offend the faith) can be blessed.

It is a tradition to bless animals on or near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, considered a patron of animals, which is October 4th.

Why do we bless animals? The Catholic Encyclopedia (1907) article, Blessing, explains:

The lower animals which minister to the reasonable requirements of the human family may have blessings invoked upon them in order that the measure of their usefulness may be increased. Thus, birds of the air, beasts of the field, bees that afford such examples of industry to man, horses and oxen broken to the yoke, and. other beasts of burden are included in the formularies of the Ritual. The Creator is invoked to grant to the brute strength and health to bear his burden and, if attacked by sickness or plague, to obtain deliverance.

The Book of Blessings explains it this way:

According to the providence of the Creator, many animals have a certain tole to play in human existence by helping with work or providing food and clothing. Thus when the occasion arises, for example, the feast of some saint, the custom of invoking God's blessing on animals may be continued.

By extension this also applies to pets as pets are also useful to humans emotionally, especially in modern times, even though they are not "working" animals.

The usual blessing on the Feast of St. Francis is a modified version of the Order of the Blessing of Animals mentioned above.

Here is the blessing from the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers by Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, NCCB/USCC, 1989, The blessing below, or the full Order of the Blessing of Animals may be done by a priest, deacon, or layman:

All make the sign of the cross. The leader begins: Wonderful are all God's works. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

All respond: Now and for ever.

The leader may use these or similar words to introduce the blessing: The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the ways of human beings. They have a part in our lives. Francis of Assisi recognized this when he called the animals, wild and tame, his brothers and sisters. Remembering Francis' love for these brothers and sisters of ours, we invoke God's blessing on these animals, and we thank God for letting us share the earth with all the creatures.

Then the Scripture is read:

Listen to the words of the book of Genesis:

[In the beginning,] God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came and morning followed-the fifth day.

Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. (Genesis 1:20-25)

(Alternate reading such as Isaiah 11:6-10.)

The reader concludes: This is the Word of the Lord.

All respond: Thanks be to God.

After a time of silence, those present offer prayer of intercession for their animals and for all creatures. After the Lord's Prayer, the leader invites all to hold or place their hands on their animals in blessing:

O God, you have done all things wisely; in your goodness you have made us in your image and given us care over other living things.

Reach out with your right hand and grant that these animals may serve our needs and that your bounty in the resources of this life may move us to seek more confidently the goal of eternal life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

All make the sign of the cross as the leader concludes:

May God, who created the animals of this earth as a help to us, continue to protect and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings, now and for ever. R. Amen.

The blessing may conclude with a song such as "The Old Hundreth" (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow), "All Creatures of Our God and King."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum