Prayer to Saint Anthony the Abbot Patron of Animals

Prayer to Saint Anthony the Abbot

Patron of Animals

O glorious Saint Anthony the Abbot,

whose life was a witness of simplicity, prayer, and love for all created things,

you were often accompanied by the creatures of God

and honored as patron of animals, farmers, and all those who care for God’s creatures.

Through your intercession before the throne of God,

we humbly ask your blessing upon all animals entrusted to our care.

Keep them safe from harm, sickness, and suffering.

May they live in health and peace,

and may we always treat them with compassion, respect,

and stewardship as part of God’s good creation.

Saint Anthony,

protector of animals great and small,

teach us to see the face of God even in the smallest of His creatures,

and intercede for us that we may love and serve the Creator

by caring for all living beings.

Amen.

Saint Anthony the Abbot is widely recognized as the patron saint of animals, and prayers to him often seek his intercession for the well-being, health, and protection of pets and farm animals. His feast day, January 17th, is traditionally a time for the blessing of domestic animals.

Prayers to Saint Anthony the Abbot for animals typically involve asking for his mediation with God to ensure the animals' happiness, health, and protection from harm or disease. These prayers often acknowledge the animal as a beloved member of the family and express a desire for their continued companionship and well-being.

One common prayer structure involves an invocation to Saint Anthony, acknowledging his role as a protector of animals, followed by a specific request for a particular pet or for animals in general. For instance, a prayer might begin by addressing "Venerable Saint Antony the Abbot" and then ask for blessings upon a specific pet, mentioning its name, so that "his existence by my side may give him peace and may always be happy" It can also extend to "all the animals on Earth, especially those who give us their company, love, and warmth"

Another form of prayer focuses on healing and protection from illness. These prayers often implore Saint Anthony to "interfere with our Lord God and help heal my animal" They express the pain of seeing an animal suffer and ask for divine intervention to make medicines effective, allowing the animal to recover and enjoy life. Some prayers also include petitions for those who mistreat animals, asking God to teach them love and respect for all creatures.

The Catholic Church, through the Roman Ritual, provides formal blessings for various types of animals, which can be led by a priest or used by families. These blessings often include petitions for the animals to be kept "sound in body" and "freed from every evil" through Saint Anthony's intercession. There are specific blessings for all domestic animals, horses, animals afflicted with disease, poultry, bees, and even salt or feed for animals. These blessings frequently involve sprinkling the animals or their food with holy water.

The tradition of Saint Anthony the Abbot as the patron saint of animals stems from his life as a hermit in the desert, where animals were his companions. Legend also connects him with pigs, as the Antonian monks, who followed his rule, raised pigs to feed the poor and create medicated ointments. This led to him being considered the patron saint of pigs, and eventually, all domestic animals. His feast day is also associated with the belief that animals can speak on that night, and bonfires are lit in some regions to symbolize renewal and ward off evil.

OTHER PRAYER: "Dear God in Heaven, Saint Anthony renounced the world to attach himself only to you. I ask for his prayers in my process of growing more in love with you. Help me to deny myself and detach from this world. I also lift to his prayers all the people I know who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, human relationships, work, money, physical beauty, and other enticements of the world. Remove their crutches, Father, so that they fall into Christ's healing hands. Holy Spirit, make it plainly obvious that everything that is not about you is really harmful and a poor substitute for Divine Love. Saint Anthony, pray for us. Amen."