Can animals be blessed outside of the feast of St. Francis?

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victrolatim

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I’m sitting in Panera with a bad cold trying to remain upright and functional waiting for my car inspection to be completed so I’m thinking of questions I’ve been meaning to ask on this forum.

Can animals be blessed outside of the tradition on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi? We would like a blessing for our parrot and sometimes here in the northeast it is too cold in October to take her out. In the summertime we routinely sit together in the parish prayer garden.
 
Sure they can. The Roman Ritual and, presumably, the Book of Blessings, contain blessings for animals, and none of them are restricted to that day. It’s just a custom that we do it then.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I’ve found that the majority of animal owners are responsible.

I’m reminded of a rather unfortunate, somewhat humorous story from a few years back at the church I used to cantor at. It was the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Francis and the animal blessing was to be held after the early mass in the outdoor grotto. I arrived for choir rehearsal after this, opening the church door to a amalgamation of odors of bodily functions and various household cleaners and the elderly priest at work with a mop. Apparently a rainstorm had moves in earlier and Father r decided to promptly move the blessing inside the narthex of the church. The movement of 20 or so wet, random canines placed in a cramped space with one another yielded a rather unpleasant result. The organist and I cut our rehearsal short to help Father clean and regain his composure.
 
We used to have a special day in our parish, called “Creation Day”. It was held in the youth center, and was mainly for kids. We were all invited to bring our animals to be blessed, and other items to educate about creation and promote appreciation of same.

I would always bring my cat, in his carrier, and if he was particularly calm, I would take him out to be petted and rest on my lap, or even on the lap of the parishioner sitting next to me, if he or she didn’t object. I had one cat that was always very calm, and just laid on the lady’s lap in complete contentment. She noted how calm he was.

I remember one Creation Day celebration when somebody brought their goat – well controlled, of course.

Being an avid birder, and wanting kids to learn about birds, I also made up a bird collage on a cork board, with pictures of various species from around the world and in the U.S., with informational text accompanying. I made it a point to include pictures of extinct species to remind folks of what can happen with over hunting and poor stewardship. It also doesn’t hurt for kids to learn about avian history over the ages.

I would set up this display in a prominent area of the youth center, along with other items brought by other parishioners, such as jars of water with pond creatures, rocks and minerals, sprigs from certain plants, and other natural items from the earth, all to be blessed, and hopefully learned about.

The problem I found was that nobody would pay any attention to it – like it was invisible. Like the kids just weren’t interested. And none of the adults would even look at it, not even the birders among us. I found that discouraging. Apparently, if it wasn’t alive and breathing, nobody cared.

I thought it was a great educational tool and opportunity, but apparently not.
 
The USA Book of Blessings has Chapter 25 “Order for the Blessing of Animals”.

The Introduction has:

“942 According to the providence of the Creator, many animals have a certain role 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.

943 The present order may be used by a priest or deacon. It may also be used by a layperson, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister.

944 While maintaining the structure and chief elements of the rite, the minister should adapt the celebration to the circumstances of the place and people involved.

945 Whenever just one or a few animals are to be blessed or the blessing of animals is to be included in some other celebration, the shorter rite provided in nos. 962-965 may be used.”

In the Latin edition the introduction is 721-724.

The General Introduction of the Book of Blessings has:

“28 Because some blessings have a special relationship to the sacraments, they may sometimes be joined with the celebration of Mass.

This book specifies what such blessings are and the part or rite with which they are to be joined; it also provides ritual norms that may not be disregarded. No blessings except those so specified may be joined with the eucharistic celebration.”

So the Blessing of Animals is not to be done during Mass.

The Shorter Rite begins with:

“962 At the beginning of the celebration, the minister says:

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All reply:

Who made heaven and earth.

963 One of those present or the minister reads a short text of sacred Scripture, for example:

Genesis 2:20a”

“964 With hands joined, the minister says the prayer of 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 is 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.

965 After the prayer of blessing, as circumstances suggest, the minister may sprinkle those present and the animals with holy water.”

Another blessing, the next chapter (26) is “Order for the Blessing of Fields and Flocks”.

[Excerpts from the English translation of Book of Blessings © 1987, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
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