Compassion for Earth

We cannot ignore all of the issues of the day, including climate change.

The media focus, and thus, the attention of a large part of the world, has been on the violent events in France during the past week. Leaders of many countries, and people of varying nationalities, are coming together to pray, to lend support, and hopefully, to try and find ways to bring about a just and lasting peace. Meanwhile, other concerns of our world cannot be ignored. One such issue is that of climate change.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will conduct the 21st “Conference of the Parties” from Nov. 30-Dec. 11, in Paris.

From Nov. 30-Dec. 11, the 21st “Conference of the Parties,” organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will take place in Paris. COP21 will be a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2-degrees centigrade.

Perhaps we can each commit to praying this prayer from Pope Francis, found in Laudato Si’. Imagine the energy entering the atmosphere if every reader of this blog prayed this from Nov. 30-Dec. 11! The focus is on climate, but the prayer embraces so much more! Let our prayer be for Earth, for peace, for nonviolence, for the people of France and Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, for the people of the United States and Iran … for all!

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

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns offers “Path to Paris,” in response to Pope Francis’ call: “Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” —- from Laudato Si’.

Take time to see all four issues of “Path to Paris.”