This is because humans can combine their suffering to Christ's suffering and participate in our own redemption by offering our suffering for ourselves or others. For humans, we can find meaning in our suffering and good can come out of it. That being said, there is no easy answer as to the suffering of animals, because ultimately, there is no obvious good we can see in it. In fact, the respect due to animals comes from our respect of God who created them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:ĬCC 2418"It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly.One can love animals one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons."Īs stewards of the rest of creation, we have a duty to see to it that animals are treated with the respect they deserve - which does not equal human respect.We should never kill or harm an animal without serious reasons, though they are not human." For he fashioned all things that they might have being" -Wisdom 1:13-14. "Because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. God does not like pain and suffering, nor did He create the world for it.
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They do not have an intellect, will, or immortal soul as we do Humans can suffer in number of ways - physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. We have to delineate the suffering of animals from the suffering of humans.It was a horrible experience for us all, in fact just thinking about it really saddens me.Ī few points about the suffering of animals: For more than 24 hours she suffered physical pain until the Veterinarian advised us to have her euthanized, because she would not be able to recover. My dog was attacked by another dog and mortally wounded a few years ago. The question certainly can arise - "why do animals have to suffer?" If you have ever seen an animal in physical pain, it can be quite distressing.
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Francis loved animals so much because he loved God first and most. He is the patron of animals, who he had a great love for.