“On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity, through the help of nature itself—God’s gift to his children—and through hard work and creativity. At the same time we must recognize our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it.” —Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), no. 50
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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.
L – Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)
O – Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
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From the Examination of Conscience in Light of Social Teaching
- Do I live out my responsibility to care for God’s creation?
- Do I see my care for creation as connected to my concern for poor persons, who are most at risk from environmental problems?
- Do I litter? Live wastefully? Use energy too freely? Are there ways I could reduce consumption in my life?
- Are there ways I could change my daily practices and those of my family, school, workplace, or community to better conserve the earth’s resources for future generations?
V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
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. LORD 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 +
Show Notes
Topics Discussed:
Catholic social justice principle #8, Care for Creation
Creation as home-building, covenant making, and Sabbath keeping
Church documents on caring for creation
Overview:
Minutes 00:12:00 – Solidarity with creation and the poor
Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Creation as home-building, covenant making, and Sabbath keeping
Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Transgressing the land’s Sabbaths causes slavery
Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Church documents on care for the earth: Laudato Si, On the Hundreth Year, Caritas in Veritate
Additional Resources:
More on Care of Creation from the Bible and Church documents
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Book, Amazon: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and USCCB
Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app!
Facebook Discussion Community
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