Almighty and most merciful God,
before our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned,
they lived and were very happy in the Garden of Eden.
There, as we read in the Holy Book,
You would walk with them "at the afternoon air,"
and they heard the sound of You in the garden.

Later, Your own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
began His fearful passion
with His sweat of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Dear God, ever since then,
a garden is a holy thing.
You still walk there with men,
at the afternoon air.
You walk with men who can see You and Your generous
and merciful providence working for them in the green things
that grow and the trees that blossom
and bear such rich and nourishing fruit:
men who can see again the cross of Christ in every tree,
and His crown of thorns in every thorn.

Bless all our gardens and orchards in this broad land of ours, dear God,
and give us rich and plentiful harvest.
Help us, as we go about our work here,
to see You in Your loving kindness,
working for us and with us.

Help us to do Your will at all times.
Then, some day, we will walk with You and Your Son,
and our dear Mother Mary, down the paths of another Garden,
far better, far more beautiful than even the Garden of Eden.

Amen.