Photo of dead oil-soaked bird on beach near Grand Isle, LA, by Carolyn Cole, Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2010. Detail of carpet page for the Gospel of John, Lindisfarne Gospels, by Bishop Eadfrith of Lindisfarne.
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for those animals that are suffering; for all that are overworked and underfed and cruelly treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat against the bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened; for all that are in pain or dying; for all that must be put to death. We entreat for those who deal with them a heart of compassion, gentle hands, and kind words; that they may share thus the blessing of the merciful. For you, O lord, will save both human and beast, and great is your loving-kindness. Amen.
--the BB
4 comments:
Lord, hear our prayers!
It is too hearbreaking for words. I can hardly bear it.
The prayer is just right, Paul. Did you write it?
It makes my heart so heavy to look at the pictures of those poor creatures.
It is a Russian prayer, Ellie, and I took it years ago from a small prayer book compiled by Massey T. Shephard.
I incorporated it into "The Blessing of our Relatives," a rewrite of the blessing of animals. The service strives to eliminate anthropocentrism.
Post a Comment