Suggested donation for blessing an animal?

[Cal_gal]

Hi,
I would like to have my sick cat blessed. Because I don’t think she will live to see October blessing of animals, it would be a special request. I am happy to make a donation, but I’m not sure what is typical, or even if my request is appropriate. Is it ok to email the church and ask? It’s a large church in California with many employees, volunteers, etc. I plan on bringing her to the church grounds so the priest does not have to travel (she travels well, even sick).
Thanks for any (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[Maximilian75]

Whatever you feel compelled to give.
It’s not even necessary to give, but great that you want to.

 

[OmnesBonum]

Yes this is appropriate. The church in the Roman Ritual even gives a blessing for sick animals, and there may be other ones in the modern book of blessings. This is the one from the 1952 english translation, although the translation is not very good, and I assume it could be used in singular:

The priest, vested in surplice and purple stole, says:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Deal not with us, Lord, as our sins deserve.
All: Nor take vengeance on us for our transgressions.
P: You, O Lord, will save both men and beasts.
All: Just as you, O God, show mercy again and again.
P: You open your hand.
All: And fill every living creature with your blessing.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

God, who supplied even dumb animals to lighten man’s toil, we humbly entreat you to preserve these creatures for our use, since without them mankind cannot subsist; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Let us pray.

We humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord, praying that in your name and by the power of your blessing

these animals may be cured of the dire sickness that afflicts them. Let the devil’s power over them be utterly abolished, and do you, Lord, protect their life and health against recurrent sickness; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Let us pray.

Have pity on us, Lord, we beg you, and turn away every scourge from your faithful. Rid our beasts of the dread sickness that is destroying them, so that we who are justly punished when we go astray may feel your gracious mercy when we repent; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

They are sprinkled with holy water.

 

[DarkLight]

I’ve also been told that alcohol or brownies go over well.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The worry there is that the priest might have an alcohol problem or diabetes.

Just give him a gift card and he can buy something he needs, or he can give it to a poor family if he’d rather.