St. Francis Prayer for Animals
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology. His prayer for animals is prayed by Catholics for sick pets, before the annual blessing of the animals on October 4, and by those who care for animals in any capacity.
About St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) was an Italian friar who renounced wealth to follow Christ in radical poverty. He is famous for his profound love of all created things — preaching to birds, negotiating with a wolf, and treating every creature as a brother or sister because they share the same Creator. His Canticle of the Creatures — the oldest surviving poem written in the Italian language — praises God through Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, and Mother Earth.
Every year on or around October 4, Catholic parishes around the world hold a blessing of the animals in his honor. Pets of all kinds are brought to church to receive a blessing, and Catholics pray for the health and protection of their animals throughout the year.
An Important Note About the Peace Prayer
The famous prayer beginning Lord, make me an instrument of your peace is often attributed to St. Francis but was NOT written by him. It first appeared anonymously in a 1912 French Catholic magazine. It is a beautiful prayer but it is not by St. Francis — attributing it to
St. Francis, brother to every creature,
you saw God's love written into every living thing.
We bring before you now our animals —
those who give us companionship,
those who are sick or in pain,
those who depend entirely on our care.
Ask God to keep them well.
Ask him to heal what is broken in them.
And if the time comes to let them go,
give us the grace to do it with love
and the trust that the God who made them
holds them still.
St. Francis, pray for us. Amen.
Original composition by Rosarycard.net. Biographical information sourced from Butler's Lives of the Saints.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the patron saint of animals?
- St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology. His profound love of all created things — including preaching to birds and taming a wolf — made him the natural patron of animals. His feast day on October 4 is when Catholic parishes worldwide hold their annual blessing of the animals.
- When is the blessing of the animals?
- The blessing of the animals is traditionally held on or around October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Many Catholic parishes invite people to bring their pets to be blessed. The blessing is a sacramental asking for God's care over the animals and those who love them.
- Did St. Francis write the Peace Prayer?
- No. The prayer beginning Lord, make me an instrument of your peace was not written by St. Francis. It first appeared anonymously in a French Catholic magazine in 1912, over 680 years after St. Francis died. It is a beautiful prayer but attributing it to him is historically incorrect.
- Is there a St. Francis prayer for a sick dog or cat?
- Yes. The prayer on this page is appropriate for any sick or suffering animal. Catholics have always brought their sick animals to St. Francis's intercession. St. Roch is also invoked specifically for sick dogs.
- Is there a St. Francis prayer in Spanish?
- Yes. The Spanish form begins San Francisco, hermano de todas las criaturas... Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
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