September 4.  water warriors are waterwise. (From BECOMING ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILIES) Cecilia is involved with a water provision project in a poor rural area.  She arranged for tanks for harvesting rain water to be donated.  Georgina laughed when she heard about it, “O mom, it hasn’t rained there in 4 months so how can one harvest rain water.” “Well there are times of the year when this is possible as you well know. But talking of harvesting water, what about putting a basin in the shower and taking shorter showers.  That water can be used in the garden, or the toilet  – if you have such luxuries which not every family has.”  “You’re right, those of us who have ready access to water can use the “grey water” from washing dishes too and think twice when we brush our teeth or wash hands not to let the tap run.  Saving water is a mindset that we all need to develop. 

Water is one of the most essential elements of creation and its presence makes our earth habitable. However water is too often contaminated from mining and industrial use and dumping all kinds of items which interfere with water distribution, making it unsafe to drink. Space scientists are always on the look out for water out in space.  But here, although the earth is made up of 70% water, much of it is sea water and not directly useable for us.  But again scientists are improving desalination and some of the UAE countries have shown us how well an economy can run in that way. How we use the water in our homes should be noted to see how much we waste and how much we can save for the benefit of others. In our gardens we could choose indigenous plants that are drought-resistant and need less water while watering should be done carefully rather than indiscriminately.

Water shortages are definitely being felt today, in rural areas far from rivers or where water has been dammed up elsewhere, or a much larger problem is poor water infrastructure management and service delivery in general.  Pollution of surface and underground water can and should be issues for families, as water warriors, to address personally or through public channels with local councils or join a ocean or river cleanup project. Like everything in life water and its management is very costly and with our attitude of working for the common good there is much we can do.

Reflect, share, act. Scripture: Jesus said, “Put our into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.  Henceforth you will be catching men.” From Luke 5:1-11. Pope Francis:  Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right,  since it is essential to human survival and as such is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Water continues to be wasted not only in the developed world, but also in developing countries which possess it in abundance. Clearly the problem of water is partly an educational and cultural issue, since there is little awareness of the seriousness of such behaviour within a context of great inequality. LS 30.  ACTION AND PRAYER. Read the Canticle of Creation of St Francis.With him “praise God for Sister Water who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.”   DAILY PRAYER.  God of love show us as families how to be channels of Your love for all Your creatures.  Pour out Your Spirit upon us as we pray and work together to tend the garden and foster peace with creation.   

St Francis Canticle of the Creatures. 


Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,
To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, 
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,  
through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, 
who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,  and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.  
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.