To Perceive Animals as God's Gifts

God Our Heavenly Father,

You created the world to serve humanity's needs

and to lead them to You.

By our own fault

we have lost the beautiful relationship

which we once had with all Your creation.

Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You

we will also restore it with all Your creation.

Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You

and to treat them with respect

for they are Your creation.

We pray for all animals

who are suffering as a result of our neglect.

May the order You originally established

be once again restored to the whole world

through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary,

the prayers of St. Francis

and the merits of Your Son,

Our Lord Jesus Christ

Who lives and reigns with You now and forever.

Amen.