O God, enlarge within us the sense of
fellowship with all living things,
our brothers the animals to whom You
gave the earth as their home in
common with us.
We remember with shame that in the past
we have exercised the high dominion
of man with ruthless cruelty
so that the voice of the earth,
which should have gone up to You
in song, has been a groan of travail.
May we realize that they live not for
us alone but for You and for
all Your creatures who love
the sweetness of life.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.