This year, the Patna Province’s Laudato Si’ Committee is publishing prayer services to support the goal of ecological spirituality. You are invited to use this prayer service for your personal prayer time or in community.
Prayer Service: God’s Family of Creation
- Entrance hymn: “Canticle of Creatures”
- Introduction:
We gather to celebrate the connection and kinship we share with all of God’s creation, from the birds in the sky to the insects underground. All are our brothers and sisters under God, and just as God cares for the birds in the field, so shall we care for God’s creatures as we care for one another.
- Opening prayer:
O God of the whole of creation.
You have created land and trees, animals and all living creatures on the earth. We are
destroying the forests through poisons and logging, the voices of the birds, insects and forest dwellers are silenced.
You created the wonders of the ocean, the fish, shells, reefs, whales, waves, corals. The oceans are warming and as they drown in plastic, their voices are being stilled.
We turn to you in sorrow and repentance.
Please help us to care for the oceans, the land and the forest, and to recognize that it is your blessing for us. Creation is speaking to us, but their voices have been silenced by the roar of our greed.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
- A Reading from Laudato Si’:
“…we must forcefully reject the notion that our being created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth justifies absolute domination over other creatures… Clearly, the Bible has no place for a tyrannical anthropocentrism unconcerned for other creatures.” (LS:67, 68).
- Reflection thru Earth Examen:
An examen is a way of beholding an object or being in prayerful wonder. Through questions,you are invited to reflect on God’s presence and the goodness of that which you behold. Consider contemplating a part of your local ecology. Prepare by taking time to consider how you can best open your senses to listen to the voices that praise God and draw our hearts to God’s presence in that place of contemplation.
Pick a natural or agricultural place to contemplate: A forest. A river. A city street with a natural area. An urban park. A farmer’s field. A hilltop. Prepare by taking time to consider how you can best open your senses to listen to the voices that praise God and draw our hearts to God’s presence in that place of contemplation. Invite Holy Wisdom to open the eyes of your heart. When you are ready, reflect on the following questions:
- Become aware of God’s presence in a natural or agricultural place that you are contemplating.
How is God present in this place?
How do you feel knowing that the Holy Spirit has filled this place for geological ages, with every plant, animal, organism and mineral that has called this place home in the deep past, makes its home here with you now, and will live here with creatures in this place in the future?
How do you feel knowing that you are made of the same carbon, breathe the same air, are nurtured by the same cycles and life processes, and are enlivened by the same Spirit of the Creator as all the rest of creation?
- Reflect on the ecological cycles of this place with gratitude for all that it provides.
What nutrient cycles are supported by this place? Is this a watershed that filters water? Is this a green space that absorbs CO2 and cleans the air?
What plants, animals, microbes and minerals are sheltered here? How do they serve the whole earth in their being?
For all that this place provides to nurture you and all that belong to this place, let a feeling of gratitude fill you.
- Listen for the voices that speak in this place, and pay attention to what you feel as you contemplate the health of this site.
Close your eyes and open the eyes of your heart. Imagine filling your lungs with breath in this place. Imagine what you feel (the air, grass, sand, soil, sun, rain) on your skin. Imagine opening your ears to listen to the voices of creation in this place. Who are they? What do you hear them saying?
Who is missing or lost from this place?
Is this ecosystem healthy? How is this ecosystem at risk of imbalance?
What are the keys to sustaining the equilibrium and balance of this place? What is your effect on this balance?
How do you feel when you consider the fragility of life that depends on the health of this place?
- Look toward your response. What can you do to ease demands or promote the rest of this ecological site?
Based on your examination, how do you identify with this place?
What have you discerned is required to care for this place?
Whose voice from among this place will you seek to amplify?
What will be your act of compassion to promote rest for this common home?
- Hymn: “All the nations, praise the Lord”
- Prayer:
God of Light, Life and Love,
Help us to seek and find your presence in all Creation.
Help us to understand the roots of the ecological crisis and give us the wisdom to
live resiliently in harmony with your Creation.
Keep us firm in the faith that the gift of life in all its fullness is for all Creation.
Help us to maintain hope that your reign of love is manifested in our common love
for you, for ourselves, and for our neighbor – both human and non-human.
Amen.
[Thank you to the Catholic Climate Covenant for helping to supply content for this service, specifically from the 2022 and 2024 Season of Creation Celebration Guides.]