Description of the Laudate Deum Prayer Network for Climate Healing
Our mission is to build a community of supporters who are praying to heal the climate crisis. We encourage you to read through this entire section to get a fuller understanding of what we are about.
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thess 5:16-22
What does the Laudate Deum Exhortation of Pope Francis teach us?
In his “Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum of the Holy Father Francis to All People of Good Will on the Climate Crisis” Pope Francis identified the climate crisis as a ‘global social issue’ that is ‘intimately related to the dignity of human life’ that will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. He urgently called upon everyone to address the crisis both personally and collectively in ways consistent with the principles of our Catholic faith.
To learn more, visit LaudateDeum.org and watch this video The Letter: A Message for our Earth.
Why is this prayer network needed?
In “Laudate Deum” Pope Francis called us to focus our prayers and efforts on addressing the climate crisis as the most central and urgent challenge among so many others related to the care of our common home. “Laudate Deum” is a specific application of the broader teachings in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’ on Care for Our Common Home.”
We see a need to overcome climate crisis denial, indifference, and despair in our church and in our society. The complexity of the climate crisis and its solutions and the resulting political polarization on this issue have prevented us from uniting on the all-important first step of being in prayerful solidarity about the challenge that we face in the climate crisis.
This prayer network provides a clear and simple way to express our resolution to face the climate crisis together. We must do this before we get mired down in discussions about specific efforts or policies.
How does this complement other organizations and efforts?
Having this clear and simple way of expressing solidarity for “Laudate Deum” can help build a network of prayerful supporters to catalyze individuals, parishes, and church leaders about the climate crisis. This network of prayerful supporters can be leaven to other efforts and organizations such as the Laudato Si’ Movement and Laudato si’ Action Platform and the Catholic Climate Covenant. In this way, the prayer network can be an incubator for missionary disciples who will then move beyond the prayer network.
Why is the prayer network currently only in the United States?
At this time the prayer network is only in the United States. Pray for us if you are from other countries, encourage your friends and family in the US to join, and contact us if you are interested in spreading the prayer network to your country. In Laudate Deum in 2023, Pope Francis stated that globally “our responses have not been adequate” to the climate crisis in caring for our common home. However, he particularly called out the United States for its carbon emissions being “about two times greater per individual than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries.” There has been a very low rate of even mentioning climate change in homilies in the US as documented in this study. The Bishops of the Global South have called upon the Global North to be in solidarity with them (see “A Call for Climate Justice and the Common Home: Ecologic Conversion, Transformation, and Resistance to False Solutions”). Joining this prayer network is a way to show that solidarity.
What are the main goals of the prayer network?
The main goals of the prayer network are…
- to increase our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as we face the climate crisis.
- to build evidence of a network of faithful supporters to help catalyze individuals, parishes, and church leaders about the climate crisis,
- to reach those individuals who may be disaffiliated from the church due in part to a lack of engagement by many dioceses and parishes on the issue of the climate crisis,
- to reveal that the teachings in Laudate Deum and Laudate Si’ are about an integrated ecology that is fully consistent with Catholic doctrine and spirituality.
What are we expressing in joining?
Joining expresses that we…
- want to be in prayerful solidarity with others as we face the climate crisis
- accept the climate crisis even if we do not agree on causes and solutions
- see the climate crisis as an issue of faith to which we are called to respond with love and hope
- are striving to be humble and forbearing toward others as we acknowledge our own limitations in this effort
- are placing our trust in Our Lord Jesus Christ to guide us toward the correct responses to this challenge.
What are the implications of joining as an individual?
Joining as an individual means you will receive our quarterly newsletter. Your support will be noted anonymously in summary statistics and maps. You can opt in to be notified about networking requests and about volunteer opportunities. We promise never to share your information with other individuals, groups, companies, or third parties except if you give specific limited permission when you join to be identified as an organizer.
What are the implications of joining as a parish or group?
Joining as a parish or group means your parish or group will receive our quarterly newsletter. Your support as a parish or group will be recognized publicly in lists and in maps. We also encourage your parishioners or members to join individually.
How can I join when I feel hypocritical?
Feeling hypocritical is justified and normal as we are all complicit and our individual responses will always be limited. We should not feel ‘green-shamed’ nor should we ‘green-shame.’ We are all in this together in our sinfulness and in our faith. Only in faith can we find our unity and hope coming from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Aren’t there other more important issues facing our world and our church?
Yes, there are many other important issues, but as Pope Francis pointed out, we do not have the luxury of being indifferent to the climate crisis which is not an isolated ecologic issue: it is a life issue that is integrated with everything else.
How can I approach the climate crisis with the right spirit and grow in my faith?
Practice your faith. We encourage you to pray, to go to mass, and to participate in the sacraments and in your parish life.
Will you be asking for money?
No, we will not be asking for money. We are an entirely volunteer organization. We exist only to foster prayer and solidarity about healing the climate crisis.
Can I join if I am not Catholic?
Yes, we are filled with gratitude that you want to join us in solidarity about Laudate Deum. Very importantly, Pope Francis addressed Laudate Deum to ‘all people of goodwill’. That means all of us. We all belong.
Can I join if I am not a practicing Catholic?
Yes, we especially encourage you to join the prayer network. We hope that discovering the teachings of “Laudate Deum” and “Laudato Si’”, finding companionship about it, and praying about it will give you new insight into the depth, breadth, beauty, and truth of our Catholic faith.
Why does the prayer network have a particular devotion to Mary the Mother of God?
Mary the Mother of God is the first and most profound model of discipleship. She pondered all the joys and pains of the world and life in her heart and gave back only love in prayerful obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am already involved in many climate-related activities and groups, why should I join?
Even if you are already very involved, we encourage you join to express your solidarity. The prayer network will not take much of your time, and it is a very simple gateway, a next step that you can recommend to anyone you encounter.
Don’t we need action rather than prayer?
Prayer is the most fundamental action of the heart, mind and will: the action of opening ourselves to our God and Creator to be transformed. Review 4 key areas for prayerful action.
What possible next steps can I consider after joining?
Note: After you join, you can access the Next Steps page which has tools to help you do these.
- Praying for healing of the climate crisis.
- Inviting family and friends to be companions with you in this prayer network.
- Asking your parish to include a prayer of petition every 1st Sunday.
- Asking your parish to include a bulletin announcement every 1st Sunday.
- Asking other organizations of which you are a member to reach out to their members.
- Being open to be notified of opportunities to connect.
- Volunteering to help us spread the prayer network.
- Helping to organize locally.
- Connecting in our discussion groups including adding your prayer intention or your prayer for posterity.
- Joining other Catholic ecologic groups such as the Laudato Si Movement and the Catholic Climate Covenant
- Making an action plan for the climate for yourself, your family or your parish at the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
- Becoming a leader with Laudato Si’ Animator Training
- Joining a Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation