Prayers for Creation

Pope Francis's Laudato Si'

In 2015, Pope Francis released his second encyclical Laudato Si': On Care for our Common Home. In this publication, Pope Francis discusses the integral link between humanity's social justice crisis and the environmental crisis. He turns a critical eye on consumerism and unchecked economic development and laments the widespread pollution and environmental destruction around the world. As we approach the 10th anniversary of its release, we must do as Pope Francis has urged and work towards solutions for the environmental crisis we find ourselves and future generations facing.

Read Laudato Si' Here

The Church and the Environment

The past several Popes have all urged members of the Church, and the public in general, to preserve and protect our natural environment. The Catholic Church has long focused on the link between social justice and caring for the environment. In fact, Pope Benedict said that "it becomes more and more evident that there is an inseparable link between peace with creation and peace among men."

In more recent years, Church leaders have increased the urgency of their warnings, framing climate change action as a moral issue inseparable from other social concerns. In 2017, over 160 leaders of Catholic universities, religious orders, non-profits, and healthcare organizations issued a letter to the Trump administration urging them to re-establish the US as a global leader in climate action. That letter can be found here.

As Pope Francis explains, we cannot properly care for the poor, the elderly, the unborn, and the neglected if we do not also care for our environment, for at the root of all these issues is a failure to acknowledge God as Creator.

Praying For Our Planet

For Leaders Impacting Climate Change (EcoJesuits, Xavier.edu)

God of blessings,
the universe sings of your glory.

Deepen our gratitude for all you have made
and awaken in us a renewed commitment
to care for the earth and each other.

Inspire leaders with openness to listen to those most affected by climate change
and with courage to act urgently and wisely,
so that our common home may be healed and restored
and all people, and generations to come, may delight in it.

-Adapted from the COP27 Climate Summit prayer from the EcoJesuits, Xavier.edu

A Prayer for our Earth (Pope Francis)

All powerful God,

you are present in the 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 your 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.

Prayer to Care for Our Common Home (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Father of all,
Creator and ruler of the universe,
You entrusted your world to us as a gift.
Help us to care for it and all people,
that we may live in right relationship–
with You,
with ourselves,
with one another,
and with creation.

Christ our Lord,
both divine and human,
You lived among us and died for our sins.
Help us to imitate your love for the human family
by recognizing that we are all connected—
to our brothers and sisters around the world,
to those in poverty impacted by environmental devastation,
and to future generations.

Holy Spirit,
giver of wisdom and love,
You breathe life in us and guide us.
Help us to live according to your vision,
stirring to action the hearts of all—
individuals and families,
communities of faith,
and civil and political leaders.

Triune God, help us to hear the cry of those in poverty, and the cry of the earth, so that we may together care for our common home.

Amen

A Christian prayer in union with creation

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.

Concluding prayer of Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis

Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;

and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,

and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,

through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,

who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom You light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit

with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through those who give pardon for Your love,

and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace for by

You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through our Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,

and give Him thanks and serve Him

with great Humility. Amen.

— St. Francis of Assisi

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