Laika (photo via NASA)Laika was a street dog from Moscow, taken from a shelter and sent into orbit, the first recorded living creature to go into orbit on Sputnik 2, on 3 November 1957. Alas, she perished from stress and overheating. Through no choice of her own, Laika proved that living creatures can survive being sent into orbit and experiencing weightlessness. [Info from
Wikipedia. Another retelling of her story posted on this day in 1999 is found
here.]
She is symbolic of how we humans use other creatures for our purposes with little regard for their good. Their is a beautiful and moving tribute to Laika
here. Rowan the Dog honors here on his
blog. I like Rowan's prayer: "Hail blessed Laika, bless all us dogs and make us brave like you. WOOF!"
Saint Laika is the patron of
OCICBW and I thank MadPriest for
reminding me of her (I was only eleven when she soared). Those of us who love critters (perhaps especially dogs) see her as a canine martyr.
On this, her feast, let us remember our siblings the four-leggeds.
May we bless these animals
with Noah-like protection
from all that might harm them.
May we, like Adam and Eve,
speak to these creatures of yours
with kindness and affection,
reverencing their life and purpose
in our common creation.
May your abundant blessing rest upon these creatures
who are our companions in the journey of life.
Amen.
[From The Blessing of Our Relatives, a service borrowing from the Roman Catholic Book of Blessings, adapted here, and other sources.]
Let us also remember the less fortunate creatures of this world.
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.
[I believe this is a Russian prayer, which would be especially fitting. I copied it years ago from a collection of prayers edited by Massey H. Shepherd.]
UPDATE: I located the book. The prayer is identified simply as "Russian" with no further details. It is #144 on page 52 of
A Companion of Prayer for Daily Living, prepared and edited by Massey H. Shepherd, Jr. (Wilton, CT: Morehouse-Barlow Co., Inc., 1978).
Holy Laika, pray for us.
--the BB
