Today is the feast of my family’s first dog, FloydRMoose (a play on Fliedermaus). He was such a tiny little thing when we got him from the breeder but quickly grew into the 170 pound Great Pyrenees. Great Pyrs, like many large breeds, do not live very long. Pyrs are especially prone to cancer. We discovered a large lump on his back right leg. It ended up being bone cancer. Though smaller dogs can have a leg amputated and get around on three legs, it doesn’t work that way for the large breeds. The Vet said that the cancer would eat through the bone of his leg and the leg would shatter. It was on this day, when I brought him to the Vet to be put down. Ruthie came from work to the Vet’s just before the Vet gave him the lethal injection. I was holding this great big beautiful dog when he closed his eyes and died. Crushed emotionally by his death, I called in to the parish at which I worked and took the day off. Ironically, that same night as I was driving up to pick Luke up from school, a teenager crossed the medium strip on the highway and hit me headon. The collision sent my car into a frozen corn field. I had to be cut out of the car. As I was pulled from the car the one thing I was worried about was cussing (everybody on the ambulance crew knew I was a deacon). It really hurt like hell when I was pulled out of the car, but I didn’t cuss. I found out later by the surgeon who worked on me that the folks at North Memorial Hospital were fearful that the shock of that break would kill me. I lost 40% of the use of my right hand in that accident.
The events of that day on March 7th have had a ripple effect on my life. I still mourn the death of that beloved Moose of a dog. The injuries of that day eventually led to multiple surgeries on that leg, and on my right leg.
I decided to create a morning and evening prayer honoring the feast days of the animals we love. Here is the morning prayer I put together. I borrowed from multiple sources for intercessions, and the concluding prayer. The psalms are taken from the Inclusive Bible translation. The Lord’s Prayer reflects the changes that Pope Francis has recommended.
HYMN
Canticle of the Sun (or Praise
of the Creatures)
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you,
alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be
praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be
praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be
praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be
praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be
praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be
praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be
praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy
those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be
praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise
and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1226)
Antiphon 1: From the lips of infants and children
you bring forth words of power and praise, O God.
PSALM 8
Yahweh, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your Name in all the earth!
You have placed your glory above the heavens!
From the lips of infants and children
you bring forth words of power and praise,
to answer your adversaries
and to silence the hostile and vengeful.
When I behold your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place
what is humanity that you should be mindful of us?
Who are we that you should care for us?
You have made us barely less than God,
and crowned us with glory and honor.
You have made us responsible
for the works of your hands,
putting all things at our feet
all sheep and oxen,
yes, even the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, the fish of the seaand whatever swims the paths of the seas.
Yahweh, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your Name in all the earth!
Glory to …
Antiphon 1: From the lips of infants and children
you bring forth words of power and praise, O God.
Silent prayer
Antiphon 2: Ourland will be filled with knowledge of God.
CANTICLE ISAIAH 11:1-8
Then a shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse;
from Jesse’s roots, a branch will blossom:
The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on you
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and strength,
a spirit of knowledge and reverence for Yahweh.
You will delight in obeying Yahweh,
and you won’t judge by appearances,
or make decisions by hearsay.
You will treat poor people with fairness
and will uphold the rights of the land’s
downtrodden.
With a single word you will strike down tyrants;
with your decrees you will execute evil people.
Justice will be the belt around this your waist
faithfulness will gird you up.
Then the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;
the calf and the lion cub will graze together,
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear;
their young will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like the ox.
The baby will play next to the den of the cobra,
and the toddler will dance over the viper’s nest.
There will be no harm, no destruction
anywhere in my holy mountain;
for as water fills the sea,
so the land will be filled with knowledge of Yahweh.
Glory to …
Antiphon 2: Ourland will be filled with knowledge of God.
Silent Prayer
Antiphon 3: We praise you, O God on high.
PSALM 148
Alleluia!
Praise Yahweh from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!
Praise God, all you angels;
praise God, all you hosts!
Praise God, sun and moon;
praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God, you highest heavens;
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the Name of Yahweh,
by whose command they were created.
God established them forever and ever
and gave a decree which won’t pass away.
Praise Yahweh from the earth,
you sea creatures and ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and mist,
and storm winds that fulfill God’s word,
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and cedars,
wild animals and cattle,
small animals and flying birds,
rulers of the earth,
leaders of all nations,
all the judges in the world,
young men and young women,
old people and children
let them all praise the name of Yahweh
whose name alone is exalted,
whose majesty transcends heaven and earth,
and who has raised up a Horn for God’s people
to the praise of the faithful, the children of Israel,
the people dear to God! Alleluia!
Glory to …
Antiphon 3: We praise you, O God on high.
READING – ISAIAH 65:22B-25
For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will enjoy the fruit of their labors. They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to die; for they and their descendants are a people blessed by God. Even before they call upon me, I will answer; and while they speak, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed side by side;
the lion will eat straw like an ox. Serpents will be content to crawl on the ground; they will not injure or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says Yahweh.
RESPONSORY
Everything in all creation cries aloud.
Everything in all creation cries aloud.
To the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb
All creation cries aloud.
Glory to God the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Everything in all creation cries aloud.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Antiphon: Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature, each kind of livestock and crawling thing, and each kind of earth’s animals!”
Blessed are You, Yahweh, the God of Israel,
for You have visited Your people,
You have set them free,
And You have established for us a saving power
in the House of Your servant David,
Just as You proclaimed,
by the mouth of Your holy prophets from ancient times,
that You would save us from our enemies
and from the hands of all those who hate us,
and show faithful love to our ancestors,
and so keep in mind Your holy covenant.
This was the oath You swore
to our father Abraham,
that You would grant us, free from fear,
to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
to serve You in holiness and uprightness
in Your presence, all our days.
And you, little child,
you shall be called Prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Savior
to prepare a way for him,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the faithful love of our God
in which the rising Sun has come from on high to visit us,
to give light to those who live
in darkness and the shadow dark as death,
and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.
Glory to …
Antiphon: Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature, each kind of livestock and crawling thing, and each kind of earth’s animals!”
INTERCESSIONS (composed by Dr Stacy Smith)
God of the sun and the moon, of the mountains, deserts and plains; all Creation gives you praise.
God of the mighty oceans, of rivers, lakes and streams; all Creation gives you praise.
God of all creatures that live in the seas and fly in the air; all Creation gives you praise.
God of every living thing that grows and moves on this sacred Earth all Creation gives you praise.
O God, you have entrusted humanity with caring for this Earth which you have created, help us to bring the world into your marvelous light.
O God, you call us to love and respect the world and to repair what we have damaged, help us to bring the world into your marvelous light.
O God, you care for what you have made good and holy, help us to bring the world into your marvelous light.
Give us the wisdom and the passion, help us to bring the world into your marvelous light.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who are in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not let us fall into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours, now and forever.
Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God, every animal, in every forest, field, and home, belongs to you, and is under your loving care. May your blessing be upon our pets and in your steadfast kindness. Keep them safe from all harm. Show forth your eternal love and mercy to N. whose companionship and friendship he/she provided to us. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. ( prayer from Saintland.com)
DISMISSAL
May God bless us, protect us from all evil
and bring us into everlasting life. Amen.
