LENT 2024. OUR WORLD A FAMILY OF FAMILIES. BECOMING ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILIES with prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
These are MARFAM’s 2024 themes and the three pillars of Lenten spirituality. THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY continue as usual, built on the daily scripture readings with an anecdote and quotation from Pope Francis and/or a reference to one of the LS Action Platform goals. It is also recommended during this season to read the longer scripture passage for the day, not just the short extract and spend more time with an appropriate prayer.
Laudato Si’ Action Platform goals.
- Response to the cry of the earth.
- Response to the cry of the poor.
- Ecological economics
- Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
- Ecological education
- Ecological spirituality
- Community resilience and empowerment.
Ecological spirituality LSAP goal 6 is the Lent 2024 primary goal. For family’s ecological spirituality the 2023 Synod on Synodality’s listening and sharing approach, now known as “Conversation in the Spirit” is recommended and can be learned and practiced daily, weekly or whenever possible with the THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY. A very simple family introduction to the Spirit-led process consists of each participant’s preliminary reflection on the topic, prayerful speaking from the heart by each speaker, attentive listening to the speaker, silent reflection and sharing of key points that emerged. Families could include an activity e.g. drawing, singing, as appropriate and end with spontaneous or shared prayer.
The focus on climate change has become more and more urgent as noted by Pope Francis in LAUDATE DEUM, his Apostolic Exhortation in preparation for COP 28 the UN climate conference in Dubai in 2023. This focused strongly on the need to cut down on the use of fossil fuels. However on a more personal spiritual level LD writes on a spirituality of nature as well as efforts made by households to reduce pollution and waste and create a new ecological awareness culture. LD 71. Adoption of sustainable lifestyles Goal 4 can be a general Lenten objective towards BECOMING AN ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILY. Other LSAP goals are built into the THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY.
The encyclical LAUDATO SI remains the major reference source on the subject of ecological conversion and makes many references to all of creation. Fratelli Tutti the 2022 encyclical on social friendship focuses more on the human aspect. All these writings are valuable sources for faith sharing for the LSAP sector for families and individuals. Some prayers are taken from the Laudato Si Prayer Book. Reference is also made to the 2023 MARFAM booklet FAMILIES CARING FOR GOD’S CREATION which unpacks the LSAP goals and contains writing and sayings of Pope Francis from other documents.
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DAILY LENTEN ACTS OF LOVE AND SACRIFICE with an eco-family-friendly focus.
A FAMILY RECONCILIATION SERVICE OR FAMILY PRAYER MEAL CAN BE HELD DURING THE SEASON. Texts to be added.
ECO-FRIENDLY LENTEN PRAYERS.
Morning prayer. Loving Creator, As I begin this new day, I ask for the grace of loving attention as I make decisions throughout the day. Open my heart to remember that the ultimate goal of my life Is to be in a loving relationship with You, myself, my neighbor, and the earth. Amen From Laudato Si’ prayer book.
PEACE PRAYER OF ST FRANCIS.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying (to self) that we are born to eternal life. Amen
PRAYER FOR OUR EARTH. Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 2015.
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.
OUR WORLD, A FAMILY OF FAMILIES PRAYER.
God of Love, creator of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are a family, a community of love, model and inspiration for us, the human family.. To us you have given dominion over your creation with the task of caring for all species, plant, animal and human,
We have grown and laboured, but have failed by not always pursuing the common good. We have abused the members of our families, destroyed many areas of our common home and neglected the good of all out of self-interest and greed. We were not always aware of the gravity of our lack of love, but we hear the cry and recognize and acknowledge our sinfulness and guilt.
God of Mercy, we praise and thank you for your love. Forgive us our failures as we learn to forgive others, so that your Kingdom of love, joy, peace, justice and freedom may come to fulfillment. Holy Spirit by your light guide us on our way, teach us to guard the earth and care for the poor of all families of creation with the love, integrity and care they deserve. May our family always have the strength and commitment to follow Jesus’ way. Mary, Mother and Queen of all Creation pray with us and for us. Amen
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