St. Francis of Assisi Prayer for Animals and the Blessing of the Animals

If you are looking for a St. Francis prayer for animals, the most authentic words come from Francis himself, in his Canticle of the Creatures. Below you will find his story, verified lines from the Canticle, how a parish pet blessing works, and a simple blessing you can say at home.

Who was St. Francis of Assisi?

Francis was born in Assisi, in central Italy, in 1181 or 1182, the son of a prosperous cloth merchant. As a young man he loved fine clothes and parties, but after illness, war and a deep conversion he gave up his inheritance to live in poverty, caring for the sick and preaching the Gospel with joy.

Others soon followed him, and he founded the Friars Minor, known today as the Franciscans. With St. Clare he founded the Poor Clares, and he also started a Third Order for lay people. He died in Assisi on October 3, 1226, and was canonized less than two years later, in July 1228. His feast is celebrated on October 4.

Why he is the patron of animals and ecology

The stories about Francis and creation are part of what made him so beloved. In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis recalls that the saint preached even to flowers, inviting them to praise the Lord, that he called the smallest creatures brother and sister, and that he asked for part of the friary garden to be left untouched so wild flowers and herbs could grow.

In 1979 Pope John Paul II named him patron of ecology, and he is honored around the world as patron of animals. Pope Francis took his name from him and calls him the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology.

The Canticle of the Creatures

Francis composed the Canticle in 1225 at San Damiano, near Assisi, when he was ill and nearly blind. He wrote it in the Umbrian dialect, and it is believed to be the first work of literature by a known author in Italian. He added the verse on Sister Bodily Death as he lay dying the following year. These lines are from the translation the Vatican uses in Laudato Si’:

• “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom you give us light.”
• “Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.”
• “Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.”
• “Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.”
• “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.”

Is there an official St. Francis prayer for animals?

Not one written by Francis himself. The Canticle is the closest thing: a prayer of praise that treats every creature as family. It is also worth knowing that the famous “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace” was not written by Francis. It first appeared anonymously in a French magazine in 1912 and became linked with him later.

Many parishes and dioceses publish their own prayers for animals, and you can also use simple words of your own. Here is a short blessing in the spirit of the Canticle, written by us for families to use at home:

Lord, Creator of every living thing, thank you for this companion you have placed in our home. Through the prayers of St. Francis, keep them safe and healthy, help us care for them with patience and kindness, and teach us to see in every creature a brother or sister. Amen.

How the Blessing of the Animals works

On October 4, or the nearest weekend, many churches invite people to bring their animals for a short prayer and a sprinkling of holy water. In Mexico you will also see animals blessed on January 17, the feast of San Antonio Abad, when thousands of people bring pets and farm animals to church. A few practical tips:

• Check first that your parish holds a blessing and whether it is indoors or outdoors.
• Bring dogs on a leash and cats or small pets in a carrier, with an ID tag.
• If your animal is nervous or aggressive, bring a photo instead; it can be blessed too.
• Bring a bag to clean up, and give your pet water if the line is long.

A simple pet blessing at home

If you can’t get to church, you can bless your animals at home. Gather the family, light a candle, read a few lines of the Canticle, and say the blessing above with a hand gently on your pet. Some families keep an image of St. Francis near the animals’ corner or on their home altar, and many also remember pets who have died during Day of the Dead.

Our St. Francis of Assisi retablo shows him as a Catrina in front of San Miguel’s pink Parroquia, with a prayer. It makes a thoughtful gift for an animal lover, a new pet owner or someone grieving a beloved companion.