Laudato Si quote:
What is more, Saint Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.
“Through the greatness and the beauty of creatures one comes to know by analogy their maker” (Wis 13:5); indeed, “his eternal power and divinity have been made known through his works since the creation of the world” (Rom 1:20). For this reason, Francis asked that part of the friary garden always be left untouched, so that wild flowers and herbs could grow there, and those who saw them could raise their minds to God, the Creator of such beauty. Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise. #12
For reflection: In what ways this week might I embrace the “joyful mystery” of the world, contemplating it “with gladness and praise”?
Pope Francis and “Social Poets” If you can only do one thing this week, we encourage you to watch this video of the IV World Meeting of Popular Movements. It begins with a 6-minute introduction (5:00-11:02), followed by a 36-minute documentary (11:02 – 46:45) that engages every focus area and commitment of JPIC, followed by a 38-minute response from Pope Francis (46:45–1:24:58) that has made the news across formats this week. In his response, he begins by calling the leaders of popular movements “social poets.” “You are social poets because you have the ability and the courage to create hope where there appears to be only waste and exclusion.” Every minute of this video is worth your time.
Human Trafficking:
Justice for Seafarers: While the news keeps focusing on how many toys won’t be available for the holiday season due to supply chain issues, we are reminded of the human beings who work on the ships that bring us so many of the goods we consume. The US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking has joined a campaign to protect seafarers. “Seafarers contend with turbulent seas made worse by climate change, modern-day piracy, long and grueling workdays, constant exposure to the elements, and lack of medical attention while aboard a vessel. Pope Francis describes their occupation as one of the most dangerous in the world. Those who work on vessels are also at risk for labor exploitation, which at times rises to the level of human trafficking.” Join this campaign with a petition to Walmart to protect these vulnerable human beings. For more information and how to sign the petition, click here.
Justice for Immigrants
Margarita Silva, an SSND Associate, co-chair of the Justice for Immigrants Committee, and ESL instructor at an SSND sponsored ministry, offers her reflection on Dia de los Muertos in this video. It’s a beautiful and personal story of the Day of the Dead and what it means.
Dismantling Racism
A wonderful opportunity for an online retreat “Transforming Spirituality in a Time of Plague” which reflects on the work of Constance FitzGerald OCD, through the Carmelite Monastery of Baltimore, November 13-14. For more information and registration information, click here.
Prayer for All Souls Day (submitted by Pat Ferrick)
Merciful Father,
On this day, we are called to remember those who have died,
Particularly those who have died in the past year,
And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.
As your son taught us to call the stranger neighbor, our fallen are many—
Names we will never know, voices we have never heard, in lands we may never visit,
Yet brothers and sisters all.
And so we pray.
For victims of war, caught in the crossfires of conflicts we could not quell,
for soldiers and civilians, adults and children, we pray ….Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For those migrants who have died seeking a haven where they hoped to find safety
and opportunity for themselves and for their families, we pray ….Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of hunger, denied their share in the bounty you have placed before us, we pray …
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of AIDS, Malaria, Ebola, Covid, and other infectious diseases,
who died before adequate care could reach them, we pray ….Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For those refugees seeking asylum from war, who died in a land that was not their home, we pray …
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of emergencies and calamities everywhere, who died amid chaos and confusion, we pray …
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
For our sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors….Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
You raised your son from the dead that all may share in his joyful resurrection. In Jesus' name, we pray…
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.
