Any Prayers/Reflections for the Loss of Loved Animal?

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Bixby

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Hello All,

Let me begin by saying that I know humans souls, especially our own, and their relationship with Almighty God are what really matter in this life. We tend to be over-sentimental in regard to animals in our culture, and I know this. The truth is we don’t know if they will be in Heaven with us or not (though I dearly hope they are).

Right then, with that said, I come in the hope that some of you might give me a pointer to prayers or reflections over a lost animal, pet, that might give comfort to our family during a trying time. Just a few days ago we lost our beloved cat under tragic circumstances; the pain of losing her is increased a hundredfold by the knowledge (learned only later) that we could easily have saved her. You can probably imagine we are tormented with grief and guilt.

So, do you know any good writings on pets or just animals that we could turn to? We read The Canticle of Creatures of St Francis and Psalm 104 (both about creation) a lot, but I’d love other things as well if you know them.

Thanks so much for any guidance. We are very sad.
 
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without getting into the theological or religious arguments, I like the “Rainbow Bridge” poem just for its sentimentality and comfort.
 
I thought of the Rainbow Bridge poem too, and thought that I would post it, for those who may not be familiar with it:

The Legend of Rainbow Bridge–from the animal bliss website​

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
 
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Thank you all for the posts and thoughts. Rainbow Bridge is indeed beautiful - the tears are welling, I can tell you. So appreciate the help.
 
In his book “After This Life: What Catholics Believe About What Happens Next,” the late Father Benedict Groeschel writes that is is not unreasonable to believe that we will reunited with our pets in heaven.

I hope that helps.
 
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The loss of a beloved pet is a terrible ordeal. I read an article which said that it can be worse than losing a human relative because our animals are constant companions. I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll say a Hail Mary for you.
 
Bixby,

May you be comforted in your time of deep distress, and I for one believe that with God anything is possible, and that includes being reunited with them. So many of us know the deep pain you are in. We have been there, too. Remember, that creation is more than just we humans. And that all of creation is a product of God’s love. And we do believe in the redemption of creation thru Christ

 
All I can say is a wish that God may bless you all for your kindness. Your responses mean so much to me; without wishing to be dramatic, my wife and I are in agony just now (we know it probably could have been prevented), our children are brokenhearted…I’m sure many of you know the feeling.

Njilisa: Though I’m more familiar with his audio/video talks than his books, Fr Groeschel is one of my heroes in the Faith, so hearing that means more than I can say. I might have to get that book!

Saxum: Thank you kindly for saying that and for the prayers. My wife and I have actually discussed this and have had some of that same feeling - we both work at home, so this little animal was our constant companion…

Angela: Those are lovely word to hear now. We do so appreciate it!

Again, thank you all. This has been a surprisingly comforting experience for me.
 
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Here’s another point. The Bible uses animal metaphors when referring to heaven – such as the lion lies down with the lamb. And Jesus says the God sees the sparrow fall.
 
St Philip Neri especially loved cats.


St. Francis di Paola was known for his love of animals. He was a vegan and, legend has it, he raised his favorite animal (either a trout or lamb depending on which source you read) back from the dead after it was killed and eaten by someone else who didn’t know it was his special companion.


St. Seraphim of Sarov had a bear who was his friend and whom he fed. St. Seraphim is Orthodox, but Pope John Paul II publicly said that he regarded St. Seraphim as a saint.

 
I’m so sorry for that your beloved cat has passed away. Our last cat (we’ve had as many as 5 cats in our house at once) died last June of a burst abscess, and it was so awful. I still look for her to greet me in the morning and when I see a little shadow, I always think it’s her.

Having been raised on a farm, we experienced a lot of beloved animal friend deaths. My big strong father was particularly soft-hearted–when he accidentally ran over a kitten, he came into the house and sat down at the kitchen table and started crying. My mother had no idea what had happened, and assumed the worst–that a human had been killed or died. She asked him several times, “What happened? Tell me!” Finally he choked out, “My kitten–I ran over him.”

Maybe that’s one reason my mother fell in love with him! She was the same way–she loved all animals. She could make wild birds sit on her finger. And when we had a pet chameleon (actually, it was an anole), she trained it to come and sit on her hand.

When we were little, my brother and I had a weimaraner–it wasn’t really ours, but our neighbors ignored it, so my mother fed it and took care of it, and we played with it as though it were a huge stuffed toy. My mother named it “Olive Oil” because its coat was the color and texture of an olive. It was a big dog, and one day, the police came to our house while we were outside playing with Olive Oil, and told us that the dog had no license and they had to take it away. Of course, we started crying, and my mother came out of the house and demanded that the police go away and leave our dog alone. The policemen approached Olive Oil, and she started growing at them (she thought they were attacking me and my brother), and then the policemen took out their guns and pointed them at Olive Oil. I still remember my brother and I screaming, “Don’t shoot Olive Oil!”

At that point, my mother stepped between the gun and Olive Oil and told the policemen to leave our pet alone, that even though we didn’t own it, we would go buy the license as soon Dad got home from work.

One of my best memories of my mother and our dog, Olive Oil.

As for words of comfort in the event of the death of a beloved pet–my favorite is from the Little House books. When Jack the Bulldog dies (old age), Laura is crying and Pa holds her and says, “Don’t cry, Laura. The God who cares for the sparrows won’t leave a good dog like Jack out in the cold.”

I think that’s absolutely true, and I believe your cat is in the Happy Hunting Grounds (or whatever you prefer to call it) having the time of their life!
 
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Yeah, I always liked that quote from Pa in the “Little House” books too.

I’m glad this thread has been kind. In the past sometimes we’ve had pet threads that weren’t. This is a positive change for CAF.
 
Love the added saints who loved animals. It’s a great list, and includes, actually, a few of my favourites: St Philip and his good humour is always refreshing (and I love the Oratorian approach to religious life), St Francis of Paola and St Seraphim are also wonderful - I have a nice biography of the latter.

Peeps, the stories of your animals are very moving. Thank you for taking the time to share them. They remind me that many, many people have been deeply touched by animals; the Olive Oil story is a great one, and that of your father as well. I’ll have to remember the Little House quote - our daughters will love it! (They might actually remember it themselves!)

TB, couldn’t agree more. I was a little worried about bringing up the question, especially when already dealing with sadness. But then, that’s a big reason I included the first paragraph of the first post as I did.

This thread has brought me (us) a great deal of comfort. I know I’m repeating myself, but thank you all so much.
 
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Please continue to mourn for your pet as long as you need to. Don’t let people tell you to “get over it.”

Are you planning to get another cat? We didn’t because we’re older and we don’t want anything to happen to us and our pet to be left without loving caretakers. But if we were younger, we probably would have another cat or two right now.
 
Bixby,

Cry and mourn as you need to. And allow yourself to be at peace about doing so> God loves us with a profound love, as He does with all of creation. Remember, He declared each day of creation “And it was good”.

Be at peace
 
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