Michael Brooks
St. Francis of Assisi, born in the 12th century, is known for his generosity to the poor, his willingness to minister to the lepers, and his love for animals and nature. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment. It is customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day, October 4, which is also World Animal Day. The blessing takes place wherever the animals can be gathered and may include readings and intercessions, a prayer of blessing, and sprinkling holy water on the animal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | On or near October 4, St. Francis' feast day |
| Location | Wherever the animals can be gathered, including churches and homes |
| Animals | Pets, livestock, and other animals |
| Ritual | Prayer, blessing, holy water, songs |
| Saint | St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment |
| History | Since the end of the 20th century, influenced by St. Francis' love for animals |
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What You'll Learn
- St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment
- The blessing of animals takes place on St Francis' feast day, 4 October
- St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures speaks of his love for animals
- St Francis' blessing of animals extends to pets and livestock
- Other saints associated with the blessing of animals include St Blaise and St Anthony of Egypt
St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment
St Francis of Assisi is known for his love of nature and belief that all creatures, including animals, are part of God's creation and deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. He is also famous for his devotion to the poor and sick and his advocacy for peace and reconciliation. Born into a wealthy family in Italy in the 12th century, he gave up his life of privilege to follow a religious path of poverty and service to God. He founded the Franciscan order of friars, emphasising humility, simplicity, and devotion to God.
St Francis is commonly associated with the blessing of animals. In the United States, it has become increasingly common for animals and their owners to receive blessings on or around his feast day, which falls on October 4th. The focus is usually on pets, but some services include a procession of all kinds of creatures. The blessing takes place wherever the animals can be gathered, and stories about St Francis, such as Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio, are often told.
St Francis is also known for his Canticle of the Sun, or Canticle of the Creatures in Italian, a poem that speaks of the heavenly bodies and the elements. However, his life is filled with anecdotes about his preternatural relations with animals, including birds, fish, lambs, and even a wolf.
In recognition of his spiritual leadership and good works, St Francis of Assisi was canonized in 1228. On November 29, 1979, Pope John Paul II declared Francis the patron saint of ecology. Pope John Paul II also noted that Francis' love and care for creation were a challenge for contemporary Catholics and a reminder to "assume responsibility" for nature.
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The blessing of animals takes place on St Francis' feast day, 4 October
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor, his willingness to minister to the lepers, and his love for animals and nature. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
St. Francis's association with animals is well-known. He is said to have had preternatural relations with animals, including birds, fish, lambs, and even a wolf. One legend from the Fioretti tells of a wolf in the city of Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time. The wolf was "terrifying and ferocious, devouring men as well as animals". Francis made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him. He then led the wolf into the town and made a pact between the townspeople and the wolf.
Because of his love for animals, it has become customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day, 4 October, which is also known as World Animal Day. The blessing of animals on St. Francis's feast day is a popular practice in the Catholic Church, with many people bringing their pets to church to be blessed. The blessing can also be performed at home, with a verbal blessing and a sprinkling of holy water.
The blessing of animals on St. Francis's feast day is not limited to the Catholic Church. Anglican, Lutheran, and other Protestant churches have also adopted the practice.
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St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures speaks of his love for animals
St. Francis of Assisi is traditionally associated with the practice of blessing animals. His feast day, October 4, is a popular time in the Catholic Church to bless animals, especially in the United States.
St. Francis is known for his Canticle of the Sun, or in Italian, "the Canticle of the Creatures." This great poem, the first in the Italian language with a known author, speaks of St. Francis's love for all creatures and his belief that they make up one family under God's loving care.
In the Canticle, St. Francis addresses the sun, moon, and stars, and the four fundamental elements: wind, water, fire, and earth. He also speaks of death as "Sister Death," taking on friendly and sisterly aspects. While the Canticle does not directly mention animals, it does include flowers, fruit, grass, and all the creatures that populate the world.
St. Francis saw all creatures as benevolent friends and brothers and sisters. This is reflected in his famous statement, "Francis of Assisi recognized this when he called the animals, wild and tame, his brothers and sisters." His love for animals is further evidenced by stories of him preaching to the birds, releasing a rabbit from a trap, and letting a raven serve as his alarm clock for early morning prayers.
Through his Canticle of the Creatures, St. Francis expressed his deep respect for nature and animals, which was a radical idea for his time. By loving creation, he manifested his love for God, seeing the world and all its creatures as a reflection of the divine.
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St Francis' blessing of animals extends to pets and livestock
St. Francis of Assisi, born in the 12th century, is known for his generosity to the poor, his willingness to minister to the lepers, and his love for animals and nature. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment. He is also known for his Canticle of the Sun, or the Canticle of the Creatures in its original Italian.
St. Francis is associated with the custom of blessing animals, particularly on or near his feast day of October 4, which is also World Animal Day. This tradition has been adopted by the Anglican, Lutheran, and other Protestant churches. People bring their pets and other animals to church to be blessed. The blessing can also be performed at home with a verbal blessing and a sprinkling of holy water.
The blessing ceremony may include readings and intercessions, and a prayer of blessing. Holy water is sprinkled on the animal if it is available. The leader of the ceremony may say:
> Wonderful are all God's works. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
The leader may then introduce the blessing with words such as:
> The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the ways of human beings. They have a part in our lives. Francis of Assisi recognized this when he called the animals, wild and tame, his brothers and sisters. Remembering Francis' love for these brothers and sisters of ours, we invoke God's blessing on these animals, and we thank God for letting us share the earth with all the creatures.
The ceremony may conclude with a song such as "The Old Hundreth" or "All Creatures of Our God and King."
While St. Francis is traditionally associated with the practice of blessing animals, other saints are also known for their association with animals, including St. Anthony of Egypt, who is regarded as a patron of livestock and animals, especially pigs.
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Other saints associated with the blessing of animals include St Blaise and St Anthony of Egypt
St. Anthony of Egypt, also known as St. Anthony the Abbot, is a hermit-saint from the fourth century who is regarded as a patron of livestock and animals. He is especially associated with pigs, as a distraught mother sow once left her sick piglet at his feet, which he healed instantly. The piglet then became his constant companion. Thus, St. Anthony became the patron of domesticated animals, and his feast day on January 17 is a particular occasion for their blessing.
St. Blaise, the bishop of Sebastea, is also recognised as a patron of animals. He is often depicted in iconography surrounded by wild beasts, as they would come to him in herds to receive his blessing. St. Blaise is also believed to have performed a miracle by curing a child who was choking on a fish bone. Due to this, he is also considered the patron saint of throat illnesses. His feast day is on February 3, and on this day, the blessing of St. Blaise is given, where two candles are held in the form of a cross by a priest over the heads of the faithful.
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Frequently asked questions
St. Francis is the Catholic Church's patron saint of animals and the environment. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature.
The feast of St. Francis is celebrated on 4 October, which is also known as World Animal Day.
The blessing takes place wherever the animals are gathered. The leader begins with an introduction: "The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the ways of human beings. They have a part in our lives. Francis of Assisi recognized this when he called the animals, wild and tame, his brothers and sisters." Holy water is then sprinkled on the animals.
The tradition of blessing animals on the feast of St. Francis has been popular in the United States since the end of the 20th century. However, the blessing of animals has been documented in Rome for over a century, on the feast day of St. Anthony of Egypt, who is also regarded as a patron of animals.
