ENCYCLICAL LETTER
LAUDATO SI’
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
The Call to Ecological Conversion
The foundation of the Laudato Si Action Platform commitment made by SSND and countless other organizations is a commitment to participate in the healing of Earth, and to living in right-relationship with all in our planet’s community of life. While the seven Laudato Si’ Goals provide a framework and critical guidance for engaging this mission, it is essential that we remember that at the heart of this initiative is a call to each of us to undergo the process of ecological conversion. Adopting eco-friendly policies and practices will always be essential, but without the deeper work of ecological conversion these efforts will be limited and short-lived. We invite you to take time this month to reflect on the call to ecological conversion using this reflection, this prayer resource and the video found in the Feb SHALOM Newsletter https://conta.cc/3IOTmXh.
Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home
This second Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis “critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls on all people of the world to take ‘swift and unified global action.’ " (Wikipedia)
Pope Francis’ friendship and dialogue with Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, spiritual leader to 300 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world, deeply influenced this writing … for all people. For example, Ecology, Economy and Ecumenism share the Greek root oikos, which signifies “home.”
“I urgently appeal … for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. … We require a new and universal solidarity. As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.” All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”
““Praise to you, my Lord.””
A Prayer for our Earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
Pope Francis, 2015
The conclusion of Laudato Si
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