Author: Fr Gil

Blessing of Animals
Feast of
St. Francis of Assisi

Born in 1181, Francis was the son of a wealthy merchant. As a young man, he rode off to war with dreams of becoming a hero- only to fall captive. A long period of illness and depression followed his release, and eventually led to his conversion. Francis joyfully embraced the Gospel challenge to abandon everything and follow Christ. His joyful demeanor and intense commitment to the Lord quickly attracted followers, and by the time of his death in 1226, he had founded three religious communities. To this day, Francis remains one of Christianity’s most beloved figures.
Opening Song
“A Place in the Choir”
by Bill Staines

Refrain: All God’s critters got a place in the choir, Some sing low, some sing higher, Some sing out loud on the telephone wire, And some just clap their hands, or paws, Or anything they got now.
1. Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom, Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus moans and groans with a big t’do, And the old cow just goes “moo.” (Refrain)
2. The dogs and the cats they take up the middle While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddles, The donkey brays and the pony neighs And the old coyote howls. (Refrain)
Listen to the top where the little birds sing on the melodies with high notes ringing the hoot owl hollers over everything and the jay bird disagrees (refrain)
Copyright 1988 Mineral River Music (BMI)/Administered n\by Bug Music
All rights Reserved
Greeting
The Word of God:
Genesis 1:20-31
Let the earth bring forth
all kinds of living creatures . . .
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 148
Response: O Lord, our God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth!
Prayer of Blessing
The celebrant asks God’s blessing on all the animals through the intercession of St. Francis, and afterward sprinkles each one with holy water.

During the sprinkling, the following hymn is sung:
“Prayer of St. Francis”
by Sebastian Temple
1. Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Dedicated to Mrs. Frances Tracy. Text: Based on the prayer traditionally ascribed to
St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226. Text and music copyright 1967, OCP. All Rights reserved.

The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Prayer and Blessing
Hymn
“Canticle of the Sun”
by Marty Haugen
Refrain:
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and all creation is shouting for joy.
Come dance in the forest,
come, play in the field,
and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord.

1. Praise for the sun, the bringer of day,. he carries the light of the Lord in his rays; the moon and the stars who light up the way unto Your throne.
(Refrain)
2. Praise for the wind that blows through the trees, the seas mighty storms, the gentlest breeze; they blow where they will, they blow where they please to please the Lord.
(Refrain)
3. Praise for the earth who makes life to grow, the creatures you made to let your life show; the flowers and trees that help us to know the heart of love.
(Refrain)
Copyright 1980, GIA Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On this day in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, we ask you to bless all of creation but especially the animals we have brought here before you. These friends of ours give us so much love and affection and we in return love them as well. Because they mean so much to us, we ask you to bless them with good health and a long life. We ask you to help them to cheer us when we are sad and to help us to always take good care of them along with all of your creation.