Calling people of faith, in solidarity with all of creation, to connect ‘with earth for earth’ in the urgency of this moment in earth history.
• Take a long moment to connect with earth ‘as a relative.’ (Sr. Jose Hobday).
• Look up or look down, look around and pray ´with earth for earth.’
Pray with the earth any way you choose. Pray every day during COP 26 (Oct. 31-Nov. 12) if you can. This initiative is inspired by the joint appeal to the participants in the UN Climate Conference ( COP 26), signed by 40 faith leaders on October 4 2021, on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Possible prayers can be found below.
We invite you to share your own prayers in the comment section below. And do please pass on to anyone who may be interested.
You may also visit the COP 26 Prayer Guide. Additionally, you may find resources of use on the Green Faith website.
St. Joe’s is offering this page on our parish website to track momentum of our Earth Prayer movement for COP 26.
Celtic Prayer
Deep peace of the running waves to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of peace to you.
Prayer for the Life of the World
For everything that emerges from the earth
thanks be to you, O God,
Holy root of being
Sacred Sap that rises
Full bodied Fragrance of earth’s unfolding form.
May we know that we are of you
May we know that we are in you
May we know that we are one with You,
together one.
Guide us as nations to what is deepest
open us as peoples to what is first
lead us as a world to what is dearest
that we may know the holiness of wholeness
that we may learn the strength of humility
that we may live close to the earth
and grow in grounded glory.
John Philip Newell Praying with the Earth
Iroquois Prayer of Thanksgiving
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun is gone.
We return thanks to the sun, which has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.
Prayer of Thanks
Accept , O God, our thanks and praise for all you have done for us.
We thank you for the splendour of the whole creation,
for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.
Prayer of Thanks
Accept, O God, our thanks and praise for all you have done for us,
We thank you for the splendour of the whole creation,
for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life
and for the mystery of love.
(Cover illustration credit: Mert Guller)
Looking at my oak tree out my living room window, I quietly recited all the prayers above, asking for special blessings and guidance for all the COP26 participants especially our new Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault.
Teach your children
what we have taught our children –
that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
…………………………………………………………………………….
This we know.
The earth does not belong to us;
we belong to the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected
like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
We did not weave the web of life;
We are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web,
we do to ourselves.
Chief Seattle
I am glad this was quoted as I had intended to post this very quote from Chief Seattle. I try to live by its truth.
I so appreciate Norah’s call to release our our Energy of Love for Earth. I am committed to do just that with ALL OF YOU ! I Marlene from Ottawa am in!
I’m in. Donna (Ottawa)
Went down to a spot on the Rideau River not far from my place and prayed the Celtic Prayer for the negotiators, politicians and protestors in Glasgow. Even now, we are mourning the loss of familiar sights and sounds of the land and the waters. What heartache lies ahead? I realized that is not the hearts of the people attending COP26 that need to change but our own hearts.