Eco-Prayers

A Franciscan presence and spirit requires living a way of life that cherishes Gospel values as St. Francis understood them. Francis tried to live as Christ lived, especially as peacemaker, as one in solidarity with the poor, as living lightly on the earth and as a brother to all creatures. Franciscan presence and spirit is also about prayer especially prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His love, for the gift of life and for the world we inhabit. The word 'eco' derives from the Greek word oikos meaning 'house', and so eco-prayers could mean house prayers or prayers for the world, our house in this life.

Praying with the Franciscan Eco-Network

We pray for the development of community-based eco-networks inspired by a deep reverence and care for all creation, people, the earth, and all creatures. We pray for inter-community co-operation.

At each of the places (e.g. Askeaton, Co. Limerick) in the Guide for Nature Lovers section, there is a space down the page where you can pray using scripture along with images of flora & fauna.

Some more Eco-prayers

Lord, we praise and thank you for the beauty and goodness of creation around us.

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Lord, help us to maintain a reverent attitude towards nature, threatened from all sides today, in such a way that we may restore it completely to the condition of brother/sister and to its role of usefulness to all humankind for the glory of God the Creator.

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Over the past century, we have noticed the diminution of the living diversity of creation and of the health of the ecosystems that support it; Help us Lord, to do our part to stop further decline in the health of our planet by the way we live our lives. 

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Lord, we pray that people everywhere become more caring towards the environment in which they live, and that politicians, planners & developers seriously consider environmental concerns when making decisions.

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