Prayerful actions for the Climate Crisis—Four Key Areas
1. How we nourish our heart, mind, and soul in faith
In the last section of Laudate Deum entitled “Spiritual Motivations”, Pope Francis summarizes the centrality of faith in addressing the climate crisis: “I cannot fail in this regard to remind the Catholic faithful of the motivations born of their faith. I encourage my brothers and sisters of other religions to do the same, since we know that authentic faith not only gives strength to the human heart, but also transforms life, transfigures our goals and sheds light on our relationship to others and with creation as a whole.” (No. 61). Go to “Spiritual Motivations” in Laudate Deum. Note that Pope Francis encouraged everyone to follow their religious tradition to help them care for Creation.
2. How we unite in a comprehensive hopeful narrative
We are all inundated with fragmented information, partial arguments, and disjointed stories that lead us to skepticism, division, inaction, and a dangerous relativism as if the climate crisis were a matter of personal opinion. We need to be united in a comprehensive hopeful narrative of the truth about the climate crisis. Pope Francis helped us to begin that process in Laudato Si’ through the practice of See-Judge-Act He added further clarity and urgency to that narrative in Laudate Deum specifically about the climate crisis.
3. How we power our world
Our civilization has been given a remarkable gift in the form of solar and wind power coupled with battery storage to power our world and our economy in profoundly less polluting and more democratic ways so that we no longer need to burn things in our power plants, factories, cars, kitchens, and basements to get energy. The clean energy transition with solar, wind and battery power is key to lessening further global warming. Please consider taking the time to read or listen to Bill McKibben’s book Here Comes the Sun for a comprehensive hopeful narrative of the truth on this subject.
4. How we nourish our bodies
How we nourish our bodies both literally and sacramentally is sacred. Nudging ourselves into more plant-based choices can benefit ourselves and our planet including slowing global warming. Consider incorporating plant-based choices and of adopting this spiritual practice as a member of the Laudate Deum Prayer Network: Eat in solidarity with the poor and the earth on Thursdays.
With prayerful action we can face these global trends together in hope.
“…the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she ‘groans in travail’ (Rom 8:22). “ [Laudato Si’ §2]