Prayers
Prayers for all of 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.
Concluding prayer of Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis
Caring God, the earth and we cry out to You
Along with the earth, we ask You to free us from greed, selfishness and indifference
Along with the air, the water, the land and the wind, we ask You to help us get rid of all the pollution
Along with the forest, birds and animals, give us the strength not to destroy ourselves and the delicate webs that connect our ecosystems and all life together
Along with those on the edges of society, the unheard, the powerless, the struggling and the suffering, we ask You for the strength to be just, merciful and compassionate
Along with those in power and positions of authority, we ask for wisdom to be good stewards of our common home
And finally, along with the whole of creation and peoples, we give You thanks for all the efforts to restore our sister mother earth
Amen.
— Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay. Mumbai, India.
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your 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.
Concluding prayer of Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis
God of the universe,
We thank You for Your many good gifts —
For the beauty of Creation and its rich and varied fruits,
For clean water and fresh air,
for food and shelter, animals and plants.
Forgive us for the times we have taken the earth’s resources for granted
And wasted what You have given us.
Transform our hearts and minds
So that we would learn to care and share,
To touch the earth with gentleness and with love,
Respecting all living things.
We pray for all those who suffer as a result of our waste, greed and indifference,
And we pray that the day would come when everyone has enough food and clean water.
Help us to respect the rights of all people and all species
And help us to willingly share your gifts
Today and always. Amen.
— Fiona Murdoch, Eco-Congregation Ireland
In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis refers to the Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi. This prayer is a modern version echoing his ecological perspective.
Be Praised for Creation Be Praised, O Lord, through the interconnected web of Creation,
Which binds your children, your creatures and your earth,
All that you have woven together
So all may exist in Original Goodness.
Be Praised for Sister Sun, that glowing star that warms our world,
Calling seeds to travel in the soil up to the light and bring us food.
Be Praised for Brother Moon, and for all the planets
That reveal your complexity and the scope of your creativity.
Be Praised for Your universes and multiverses, unfolding to us
In endless waves, humbling us in our astonishment.
Be Praised for Sister Wind, which moves with energy
Throughout our planet, carrying our hopes and prayers.
Be Praised for Brother Water, who has sustained life for all that grows
And whose freshness we can still glimpse despite the soiled streams.
Be Praised for Mother Earth, the ground beneath our feet,
Who we are called to cherish and not defile.
Blessed be those who suffer and are in need
because of the injustices done to our planet.
Blessed be those who work for peace on earth
And for Your earth itself, including Pope Francis.
Blessed be those who know our time is short
And we are called in the here and the now
To tend this earthly garden, to restore the great gift
Given to all for the benefit of all.
Praise our God, and give thanks to our Creator
Through our humility and our care
For His beloved Creation. Amen.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
and give Him thanks and serve Him
with great Humility. Amen.
Click here for a PDF with artwork courtesy of the San Luis Rey Secular Franciscan Fraternity.
Dear God, you have called us from the beginning of time to be in harmony with our sisters and brothers, with all creation and with you.
Today, the ambition of few has taken away from many the goods of the earth. Your precious creation is struggling to regenerate itself because we have been careless and have been consuming what was also meant to be for those who would come after us.
We have forgotten that you created this world for all, and we have been using it, each time more, only for personal interests.
We pray that we may embrace your call to care for our common home.
We ask you to help us to be attentive to the cry of the planet, to the cry of those who have been dispossessed by our greed.
We humbly ask for your blessing so we may find new ways or rediscover paths to care for the land, the water, and the air.
We pray that all our sisters and brothers who are experiencing the effects of climate change discover that they are not alone, that when they turn their eyes in search of support, they can find help in us. Give us a generous heart so that hope may be reborn in the tender care of our common home and one another.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
— Catholic Relief Services
Give us a love for this
your world, dear Lord,
and a yearning to be
its stewards, as you
intended from day
one that we should be.
We have become blind.
Open our eyes to all
that we can do now,
in our own little way
to make a difference,
for the greater good
of all, on this, our home
and your precious garden.
— John Birch, Faith & Worship
Peace to this earth,
This gift of creation,
Which we celebrate
With joy and with reverence.
In the spirit of the first Francis,
May we take time to see
The radiance of creation,
This gift of light and liquid
And green growth.
Peace to this earth;
May we practice nonviolence
Toward our lakes, rivers and seas.
May we renew the living waters
Teeming with life, small and large.
May clean waters quench our deep thirst.
Peace to this earth;
May we practice nonviolence
Toward the land, the very ground of life;
May we restore the soil
So its richness can give us plentiful food.
May we all be nourished by the fruits of the earth.
Peace to this earth;
May we practice nonviolence
Toward air, sky, clouds.
May we respect these gifts
So we can breathe freely in gentle rain.
May the natural world be a safe home for all.
Peace to this earth,
We pray with our pope,
Peace to creation,
Which we celebrate With joy and reverence,
Knowing we hold a fragile world
In our hands. Amen.
—Jane Deren, Ph.D.
Note: In his first Easter message, Pope Francis declared “Peace to our earth.”
Click here for PDF of the prayer from Education for Justice.
Creator God, who made our beautiful world,
appointed us as its guardians
and gifted us with everything we need,
forgive us
for the times we cause it harm;
for the times our way of life
affects our neighbors.
Inspire us
to care for the environment;
to help rebuild lives and communities;
to share in the griefs and anxieties,
joys and hopes of all your people,
so that all your creation may flourish.
Amen.
— Stephen Davies/CAFOD
This Pledge of Commitment may be read in unison or in alternation:
We have come to renew our covenant with God and with one another in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
We have come to help protect God’s creation.
We have come as followers of Jesus to commit ourselves anew to one another and to heal injustice and poverty.
We have come to stand together against all threats to life.
We have come to discover some new beauty every day in God’s creation: the sunrise and sunset, birds, flowers and trees, rainbows in the sky, the stars, the many forms of life in the forest.
We have come to listen to the “music of the universe”- water flowing over rocks, the wind, trees bending in the wind, raindrops pattering the roof.
We will remember always that God speaks to us through the beauty of his creation, and we will try our best to answer God’s call to reverence all that he has created.
We thank you, creator God,
for the goodly heritage you offer us,
from green downland
to the deep salt seas,
and for the abundant world
we share with your creation.
Keep us so mindful of its needs
and those of all with whom we share,
that open to your Spirit
we may discern and practice
all that makes for its wellbeing,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
— Rev. Peter Lippiett
Guided Devotions
Prayers, reflections, and meditations that can be used individually or with a group. Each offering focuses on themes from Laudato Si’.
Guided Rosary on Caring for Creation
Includes Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries with reflection questions for each decade. Created by Franciscan Action Network.
- Rosary Meditations
Includes Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries with with scripture passages, prayers, and quotes from Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. Created by the Global Catholic Climate Movement (now Laudato Si’ Movement).
- Joyful Mysteries for the Care of Creation
Includes scripture and reflection to nourish a commitment to care for all of God’s creation. PDF and podcast available. Created by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.
- Laudato Si’ Chaplet
A prayer technique using the words of St. Francis to praise God and deepen universal fraternity with all of Creation. Created by Laudato Si’ Movement. - Chaplet of Creation
Following the structure of the Rosary, this 5-part prayer offers praise to God for creation and the Earth that is filled with God’s presence. Includes an opening reflection on “Our Father” through the lens of Laudato Si’. Available through the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. - Rosary of Creation
Includes a PDF prayer guide and videos with passages from Laudato Si’. Available in English and Spanish. Created by Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. - Rosary Video – A Walk in the Woods
A full, pray-along rosary video with beautiful images, music and sounds of nature in the Redwoods in California.
- Way of Beauty (Stations of Creation)
Following the pattern of the Stations of the Cross, this brings to life the teachings of Laudato Si’. Created by Fr. Gilbert Choondal SDB in September 2020. - Ecological Stations of the Cross with St. John Paul II
Includes scripture, reflection passages from St. John Paul II, and prayers for each station. Created by Franciscan Action Network. - Solidarity Way of the Cross
Commemorate the Passion of Christ through the lens of solidarity and upholding the dignity and rights of communities most affected by climate change and corporate abuse. Created by Development and Peace – Caritas Canada. - Stations of Creation
A 6-part reflection based on “Canticle of the Creatures” by St. Francis of Assisi. Created by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. - Stations of the Cross in the Spirit of Laudato Si’
Designed for an outdoor walk, easily adaptable to any location. Sponsored by the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Commission USG-UISG. - Stations of the Cross: Renew the Earth
Walk with Jesus and those who have been displaced by the effects of climate change around the world. Available in English and Spanish. Created by Jesuit Refugee Service. - Ecological Way of the Cross
Reflect on the way of the cross with an emphasis on the eco-conversion that is needed for our time. Created by the Franciscan Friars Conventual JPIC commission.
We’re developing prayer services with Laudato Si’ and Franciscan themes. Here are other resources available now:
- Prayer for the Care of the Poor and Prayer for the Care of Creation: Prayer services including opening and closing prayers, Psalm, Scripture reading, and petitions. Created by Catholic Charities USA.
- Caretakers of God’s Creation: Prayer service and guided reflection with passages from Laudato Si’ highlighting elements of earth, air, fire and water. Created by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
- Evening Prayer celebrating Laudato Si’: Evening Prayer service created by Virginia Interfaith Power & Light for Laudato Si’ Week 2020. Easily adapted for Evening Prayer at any time.
- Taize Prayer Service: Worship aid for Taize prayer service “Answering God’s Call in Response to the Needs of the World Today.” Includes Laudato Si’ passages, music, intercessions and iconography. Created by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in 2020.
- Meditation on Creation: A short guided meditation including printable prayer card in English and Spanish. Created by Catholic Climate Covenant.
- Creation Novena: A 9-part prayer guide with prayers for parts of creation such as animals, plants, water, air and vulnerable people.
- Novena – Season of Creation: A 9-part prayer guide with Scripture and Laudato Si’ passages. Created by the Sisters of Nazareth for the 2021 Season of Creation. Easily adapted for individual or group prayer anytime.
- Laudato Si’ Mass: Suggestions for incorporating care for creation themes into masses during the Season of Creation or at any time.
Inspired by Laudato Si’ and easily adaptable for use in any Mass, liturgy, prayer service, or personal time of prayer.
- A daily intercession paired with Morning and Evening Prayer – English and Spanish. Created by the Franciscan Friars Conventual.
- A library of homily helps and liturgy resources highlighting care for our common home. Includes prayers of the faithful for each Sunday, organized by month. A resource of Catholic Climate Covenant.
- Prayers of the Faithful options for Earth Day and during Ordinary Time. Compiled by Catholic Climate Covenant, 2022.
- Prayers of the Faithful designed for the Season of Creation and can be used at any time.
- Intercessions on Care of Creation/Preces sobre el Cuidado de la Creación in English and Spanish prepared by the Office of Peace, Justice and Ecological Integrity of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth.
- Litany: Care for Our Common Home prayer service prepared by Sr. Maureen Foltz.
Additional Prayer Resources
A collection of prayers for various topics offered by Franciscan Action Network.
Interfaith Prayers and Climate Blessings from a variety of religious traditions in English and Spanish.
Ecumenical and Interreligious Guidebook: Care for Our Common Home (2021) created by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers, Catholic Climate Covenant, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A library of prayers and reflections offered by the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
Laudato Si’ Movement Prayer Book – A collection of over 60 prayers written by lay and religious contributors from around the world. Available in English with a Spanish edition coming soon.