Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity

sprinkleeninow

(20,544 posts) Mon Nov 30, 2020, 02:06 AM Nov 2020

☦ Eastern Orthodox Prayer for Pets and All Animals

Prayer for the Blessing of Animals
(kindly provided by the Monks of New Skete Monastery)

Psalm 150~
Alleluia! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him for his vast, unshaking strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him for all his grandeur. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! [vs. 1,2,& 3]

Let us pray to the Lord.

O our master, Lord and God, in ancient times you blessed the flocks of the patriarch Jacob, and when you took flesh and entered this world as a small and vulnerable infant, you were sheltered in the manger with these very creatures of yours.

O loving Saviour, after you taught us how to pray to your heavenly father, you used the birds of the air as a reminder of his all embracing providence, for everything that breathes is the work of your hands and acknowledges, each in its own way, the presence of your all holy and life-giving Spirit.

As we gather together this day to ask you to bless these various animals, let us see in them the goodness and beauty with which you endow all your creatures. By the example of our venerable fathers Paul and Anthony of the desert, Francis of Assisi, Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh, teach us never to abuse them or to take them for granted, rather let them open our hearts to your divine love so that, together with every living being, we may all sing your praises, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; now and forever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.