Blessings of the Beast

How many are your works O God!  In wisdom you made them all!

Confession Prayer

Almighty God and Creator of all:  You have chosen humankind for a position of special responsibility in the world.  We have failed to respond in awe to your wonders.  We have misinterpreted our role of dominion and abused our power.  We have caused the animal kingdom needless suffering.  Forgive us as we seek anew the vision which you set before us as we strive to respond to your call.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

1st Reading:  Genesis 9: 8-17

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you; all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark.  I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth." God added: "This is the sign I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you:  I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.  As the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and recall the everlasting covenant that I have established between God and all living beings--all mortal creatures that are on earth." God told Noah: "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all mortal creatures that are on the earth."

Psalm 104:1, 10-15, 25

Bless the Lord, O my sou; O Lord, my God, you are great indeed!  You send forth springs into the watercourses that wind among the mountains and give drink to every beast in the field until the wild assess quench their thirst.  Beside them, the birds of heaven dwell, from among the branches they send forth their song.  You water the mountains from your palace; the earth is replete with the fruit of your works.  You raise grass for the cattle and vegetation for men's use, producing bread from the earth and wine to gladden men's hearts. How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all--the earth is full of your creatures!

The Blessing of the Animals

O Supreme Spirit of Creation, from your sacred breath came forth birds and beasts, fish and fowl, creatures of such variety and beauty that we are continually amazed at Your divine imagination.

These children of Yours have been blessed by You, their Creator, with simplicity, beauty, and a cosmic purpose.

They have been blessed as well by our greatest grandfather Adam, who in Eden land gifted each with its own name.

They have also been blessed with protection by our ancient ancestor Noah, patron saint of those who seek to preserve all the You have created.

Sheep and goats, donkeys and cows, doves and serpents, fish and birds of the air were blessed by Jesus Your Son, by his being born in their company and by His making use of them in his teachings.

May we, in this holy pattern, now bless our animal friends by taking

delight in their beauty and naturalness.

May we bless these animals with Noah-like protection from all that might harm them.

May we, like Adam and Eve, speak to these creatures of Yours with kindness and affection, reverencing their lives and purpose in our communal creation.

May we never treat any of Your creatures as mere animals, but rather let us seek to learn their language and to be a student of all the secrets they know.  

May Your abundant blessing rest upon these creatures who are companions for us in the journey of life. AMEN

The Prayers

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures.  You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air, and animals on the land.  You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters.  We thank you for giving us these pets who bring us joy.  As you take care of us, so also we ask your help that we might take care of those who trust us to look after them.  By doing this, we share in your own love for all creation.  We ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN

Let us give thanks to our gracious God for all the gifts so freely bestowed upon us.  For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in the earth, the sky and the sea.

For the richness of the mountains, plains and rivers;

For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women;

For all the cratures that breathe and move and have life;

For the songs of birds and the loveliness of trees;

For the trust you have shown in giving into our care these our pets

That each pet here may be cared for with love;

That we may love and honor all your works, O God;

That all our pets who have died may always be held in your heart as we hold them in our hearts;

All honor and glory and praise are you, O God, Creator of all.

AMEN

Blessings in All Directions:  by Donna Wahlert in ANIMAL BLESSINGS, edited by June Cotner. Happer San Francisco, 2000.

We look to the north and see hardy caribou, noble elk, the husky rolling in the snow, the salmon struggling upstream to spawn, the deer whisking his tail with elegance.

We look to the south and watch the alligator measuring the pond, the armadillo turning his armor to the world, the wings of pelican, wood stork, heron catching the low warm air streams.

To the west is the rim-eyed panda, the yak, the kiwi, a koala nestled in the fork of a blue gum tree, the take-charge kangaroom and wallaby leaping to attention, balancing the world on thick tails.

The red earth of the east is the setting for the stately parade of giraffe, elephant, gazelle, fringed lion, svelte tiger, portly hippo-all staking a claim for their home on the continent.

We look nearer to home and glimpse the curious Persian cat, the faithful Labrador, the regal quarter horse, content goldfish, clever hamsters, the reptile appreciating friendship.

As we finish taking inventory, we send up a prayer of thanksgiving for these blessed animals who reflect all of creation and who share with us this air, this water, this dust.