Prayer for the Care of Water
This month, which begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV asks the faithful to join him in praying for the stewardship and just distribution of water.
In a year which has seen record levels of drought in many regions, increased concerns about the demands for water posed by AI, and apocalyptic wildfire events, these prayers could not be timelier.
Yet, even before the events of the last year, access to clean water has been an often-overlooked life issue. I first became aware of it in 2005 when, during a trip to Honduras, I passed potable water trucks carrying machine gun carrying guards. I was suddenly struck by the preciousness of a barely noticed piece of my daily life.
As of a year ago, 25% of the global population did not have access to water that was safe for drinking, leaving them vulnerable to disease. Even within the United States, millions of Americans lack access to adequate plumbing. Predictably, the poor and marginalized – particularly women and girls – suffer the most, making access to clean water a social justice issue with extensive sanctity of life implications.
The tangled web of access, pollution, economic development and injustice can feel impossible to untangle, making us beg for the intercession of Mary, the Undoer of Knots.
As we join Pope Leo in prayer this month, lets also pray that God will use this time to bring about real change in our lives so that we can each become good and faithful stewards of the gift He has given us through the creation of water. To that end, we offer these resources:
- Becoming a Steward
- Understanding the Water Cycle and Runoff Pollution
- Teaching Children About Water (disclosure: this links to a video of my own children’s book about the water cycle).
- Careful gardening, paving and landscaping Techniques
- Understand Church teaching about the environment and read Laudato Si’
Other Environmental News from the Vatican
Pope Leo’s prayers this month are not the only way that the Vatican has been working to steward the earth we have been given. On August 18, it was announced that the Papal garden within the Vatican Gardens will become 100% organic, with an emphasis on respect for the soil and natural growth cycles that supersedes efforts to maximize production. The garden, which originated in the Middle Ages, produces produce for the papal household and local charities. Moving forward, efforts will be made to follow seasonal growth patterns, use certified organic fertilizers, rotate crops with nitrogen fixers (like green beans), carefully monitor pests and weeds so that harmful sprays are avoided, and potentially utilize a seaweed-based fertilizer.
Also in August, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved the English and Spanish translations for the Mass “For the Care of Creation.” The Mass, which was discussed in a WPI article by Paul Chu last year, uses readings from Wisdom 13, Colossians 1, Psalm 19, Psalm 104, 1 Chronicles 29, Matthew 6, and Matthew 8. Celebrants may choose to utilize the Mass on liturgical days with a rank of 13 (a weekday during ordinary time, for example). It may not be used on Sundays without permission from the local bishop. It is also not permitted on liturgical Feasts and holidays of Obligation.
Finally, in commemoration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo celebrated the above mentioned Mass in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, during which he taught about the importance of taking time to wonder that the natural world that God has made and to let these times of reflection and contemplation deepen our awareness of His love for us and the importance of our relationships with one another and the world around us. During his Homily, he echoed the focus that he placed on Isaiah 2:4 in his message for this 11th day of global prayer for creation. In that message, he highlighted the ways in which social and economic injustice are linked to ecological injustices and encouraged the faithful to use the resources that have been historically used for violence and destruction to build a “civilization of love” through conversion of heart.
Image: Waterfall along Glencoe Hidden Valley trail (Scotland, UK) by Ariane Sroubek
Ariane Sroubek is a writer, school psychologist and mother to two children here on earth. Prior to converting to Catholicism, she completed undergraduate studies in Bible and Theology at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. She then went on to obtain her doctorate in School and Child Clinical Psychology. Ariane’s writing is inspired by her faith, daily life experiences and education. She is currently writing a women's fiction novel and a middle-grade mystery series. Her non-fiction book, Raising Sunshine: A Guide to Parenting Through the Aftermath of Infant Death is available on Amazon. More of her work can be found at https://mysustaininggrace.com.
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