Animals in Church

Biblical passages, historical sources, and prayers

About this booklet

This booklet gathers biblical passages, historical sources, prayers, and examples from Christian tradition concerning compassion toward animals.

It is a documentary and educational work. Its aim is to help readers encounter sources faithfully, understand their historical setting, and reflect without polemics or pressure.

The booklet contains:

• an introduction to its scope, sources, and editorial choices;
• biblical passages from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, with context and notes;
• witnesses from Christian tradition: ten figures, from the desert of Egypt to colonial Peru, whose lives or legends record a close bond with animals;
• prayers from several Christian traditions that speak of animals;
• a short account of dogs in service today, which extends the historical thread into present-day practice;
• further reading and a full list of references.

How to read it

Chapters distinguish primary texts from editorial context. Quotations are marked as such, and each is followed by a citation; the full references are listed at the end. Where a story belongs to later legend rather than documented history, or where an attribution is uncertain, the text says so.

The chapters can be read in any order.