Anointing of the Sick for Dogs?
Now that I have your attention. Animals cannot be Baptized, nor can they receive the Anointing of the Sick or any other Sacrament. But, animals are part of God’s creation, and part of God’s plan. Everything was created by God out of His infinite wisdom and love. He made no mistakes in His work of creation. In fact, everything in creation in one way or another reflects the something of God and His beauty. When we reflect on creation, the animals and plants, they can teach us something about our relationship with Him. They are totally dependent on God’s providence “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Mt 6:26)” If we only lived with trust in that same dependance on Almighty God’s care for us.
As many of you know, my dog, Mickey has indolent lymphoma. There is no Sacrament given for animals, no matter how good or gentile they are. Sacraments are for men. Each night when I go to bed, I give my dog a blessing and a cookie. I have also been praying over his lymph nodes. There are many stories of the saints curing animals out of concern for the animal and for God’s people who need the animal for their livelihood, or just have concern for their pet.
However, like God’s providential care for animals, the Church also extends Her loving care and blessings for animals. In a time when everyone has become so conscience for the environment and creation, we can also take consolation in the Church’s care. Not a care that came about because of worldly environmental concerns, but one that has always been there.
In my preferred “Book of Blessings,” known as the “Roman Ritual” of 1964, there are many blessings for creatures of all kinds. Among these blessings is a “Blessing of Sick Animals.” So, if you have a sick animal be sure you ask your priest to uses this blessing. Of course the priest can make a blessing up on the spot, but the Church’s ritual is backed by the treasury of Holy Mother Church.
3. BLESSING OF SICK ANIMALS
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.
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I prayed over my dog CoCo who has mast cell tumor.
I ask our Lord Jesus to heal this furry friend who has been part of our family for over 11 years.
Of course we can pray for our dogs. God loves our pets, they are His creatures.
Fr Finelli
Please pray for our dog Baci who is a Morkie, 13 years old who has cancer. Please pray that God removes the cancer so he can be with us longer. Thank you!
Dean Bravo
San Mateo, CA
I’m praying and using the water from Lourde over her until her tumour results come back. She is a good and faithful companion. Am I doing the right thing! Please pray for her Thank you! In the of the son, the father and the Holy Ghost
Peggy, Our dog Baci passed away in 2024. This is an old post now. Please pray for his little soul in Heaven. Thank you and God bless!
Animals do not possess immortal, rational souls as human beings do. Therefore, they do not enter heaven by their own merit in the way that human persons are called to eternal life. Nevertheless, God is all-powerful, and it is certainly possible that animals may be present in His eternal kingdom if He so wills. If our pets are there, it would be entirely because of God’s goodness and generosity, not because they have an eternal destiny of their own.
Please pray for my Dog Cardo, that he will be healed from his stomach pain and other sickness
Please pray for my dog Cholo so that he may me healed of all sickness in Jesus name!
My girlfriend’s dog is very sick and am asking if you would pray for him… he is a small black Scottie Dog named McKenna. I am a Catholic and asked the Pastor of my Church to bless the dog with Holy Water but he refused and said the Catholic Church doesn’t do this because it would put dogs on the same level as men… thank you for saying prayers for his recovery…I am a Eucharistic Minister and will sprinkle Holy Water on the dog and say a prayer…I know Jesus will understand.
Hi Maura, I will pray for the little pooch. I believe they are also loved by God because they are his creation. In many ways they reflect His beauty and love for us in a small way. I bless my dog and give him a treat every night before bed. You can surly sprinkle the dog with Holy Water. You priest should remember the blessing of animals on the Feast of St. Francis. We treat these creatures with kindliness and affection out of love for the One who is the Creator.
Please pray for our 2 year old dog Koda, he has been diagnosed with lymphoma and all depends on what type of lymphoma he has either one is not good one will give him 6 months and the other 1 year, please pray JESUS will heal him. My daughter is so devastated she is so stressed my heart is breaking for both of them, Koda is such a good boy and he is so funny and he whistles when he yawns please ask for God’s mercy and love and on top of that we just lost my Mom and my daughter has barely had time to grieve her, please I am asking for everyone to pray hard, thank you and God Bless.
Dear Kim, I’m so sorry to hear. Our pets become part of our families. Sometimes they become closer to us than some people because they are always at our sides, through good and bad, trial and tribulation. I will ask they Lord to be merciful and heal your dog if it his will. God bless you!