Environment Prayers

In Solidarity with All Creation

Oh how beautiful are your ways, O God, the works of your creation. Raise our consciousness to know and feel deeply in our hearts our connectedness to all that is.

Instill in us the gift of being co-creators and sustainers of life. Teach us new and unsuspected ways of living so that current and future generations can walk humbly in beauty, love all compassionately, and live justly in solidarity with all creation.

Loving and gracious God, give us the courage to seek this transformation of self and society and the strength to see it through. Amen

School Sisters of Notre Dame Green Team


A Prayer for Our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest 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.

Pope Francis


A Christian Prayer in Union with Creation
Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your
tender love.
Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our
Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!
Triune Lord,
wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good,
advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen
Pope Francis

A Prayer for the Environment

Creator of the universe, we pray in gratitude and praise. You were there at the beginning of all things, shaping our world and preparing it for us. You have provided the mountains and the trees, the waters and the earth. Help us to be caretakers of your gifts, protecting the land from abuse, and ready to share with all in need. Show us how to use our science and technology in creative, not destructive ways. Deepen our awareness of our connectedness with all your creation, So that future generations will also enjoy every blessing.

Amen.

Michael Gormly SSC


Dear Mother earth,

Who day by day unfolds rich blessing on our way, O Praise God! Alleluia!

The fruits and flowers that verdant grow, Let them his praise abundant show.

O praise God, O praise God, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

St. Francis


O God, You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water…The pastures of the wilderness overflow, The hills gird themselves with joy, The meadows clothe themselves with flocks, The valleys deck themselves with grain, They shout and sing together for joy.

Psalm 96


Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty. Who covers yourself with light as with a garment: who stretch out the heavens like a curtain: Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind:  Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. You covered it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.  At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which you have founded for them. You have set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.  He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.  He water the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of people: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;  And wine that makes glad the heart; oil to make faces shine, and bread to strengthen our hearts. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows when to go down. You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.  The sun rises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.  Human beings go forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.  O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom you have made to play therein.  These wait all upon you; that you may give them their meat in due season.  What you give them, they gather: you open your hand, they are filled with good.  You hide your face, they are troubled: you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.  You send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of the earth.  The glory of the Lord will endure for ever: the Lord will rejoice in his works. He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke.  I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise you, the LORD.

Psalm 104


Prayer to Care for Our Common Home

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.

Triune 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.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops


Loving Our Neighbors in the Climate Crisis

Lord, we wonder…
We hear the warnings from the scientists and the United Nations. We are already seeing refugees
being driven from their homes and livelihoods by the creeping desert. The number of violent storms
and fires is already on the increase.
And we wonder just what the future might bring: worldwide displacements of people, dwindling food
supplies, international conflicts …

Lord, you call us to a love of neighbor that knows no boundaries of geography or race.
You also call us to a depth of love that is not limited by time.
So, we ask you to enlarge our concern for the younger generations.
May our compassion embrace those who have not yet been born but whose lives will be blessed or
blighted by how we live today.
Enable us to see that they too are our neighbors.
Help each one of us to re-examine our own lives –
our social and political assumptions,
our lifestyle decisions.
And Lord, above all else, please save us from the toxic sense of helplessness that anything we do
won’t really make any difference.
Amen

Prebendary Mark Geldard


Click on these links for more prayers:

Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

Catholic Relief Services

Earth Spirit Rising

Eco-Prayer

Education for Justice

The Forward Movement of the Episcopalian Church

Ten Prayers for the Environment

US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Xavier University