Catholic Prayer: Roman Ritual: A Blessing for Horses or Other Animals

Description:

The blessing for animals, particularly farm animals, has been a long tradition for the feast of St. Anthony, Abbot (and Hermit) on January 17. The Vatican practices this blessing annually. The feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4) is another day for particular use of this blessing.

From the Rural Life Prayerbook in regards to the blessings:

All the blessings here given have been carefully translated into modern English from the 1944 edition (Benziger) of the Rituale Romanum (Roman Ritual)

These blessings are in no way intended to be a Priest's Ritual. The blessings have been translated into modern English for the use of men and women and their families. The intention is to acquaint them with the riches of the Church which have long been unknown and unused, like a treasure hidden under our very door step. The translations here given can be used with great profit in the family circle, with the father or mother leading and the children taking up the responses. They are excellent topics for discussion in the family circle.

And finally, these blessings will give the faithful much food for deep meditation upon the gifts of the earth with which God has so generously blessed us.

Prayer:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

O God, our refuge and our strength, You are the very source of our loving service. Hear the devout prayers of the Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may actually obtain through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You tried the glorious Saint Anthony (the Hermit) with various temptations, and allowed him to pass unharmed through the storms of this world. Grant to Your servants that we may profit by his splendid example, and by his merits and intercession be freed from the dangers of this present life, through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Let us pray.

May these animals, Lord, receive Your blessing. Keep them sound in body, and through the intercession of Saint Anthony (the Hermit) may they be freed from every evil, through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

(And they are sprinkled with holy water.)

Prayer Source: Rural Life Prayerbook by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J., National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 ncrlc.com, 1956