87. When we can see God reflected in all that exists, our hearts are moved to praise the Lord for all his creatures and to worship him in union with them. This sentiment finds magnificent expression in the hymn of Saint Francis of Assisi:
Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
who is the day and through whom you give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of you, Most High.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
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.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water,
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”.
Reflection: Which image or phrase in this hymn catches your attention today? Contemplate that particular phrase or image and how it speaks to you right now. How do you “see God reflected in all that exists”? Journal about your reflections, and discuss this with someone else if possible.
Action: Find a way to “praise God for all God’s creatures and to worship God in union with them” by spending time outside this week, whether in the city or beyond. How is the magnificence of God’s creation available to you and others where you live? Train your eyes to see the beauty of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Sister Water, and Brother Fire! Invite one other person to see with you and praise with you. And get ready for intentional participation in the Season of Creation (September 1 – October 4) here!
Season of Creation
For full resources on the Season of Creation click here. Consider this SSND International Solidarity Reflection prayer service for your local community, school, or ministry during this Season of Creation.
For a beautiful liturgical guide that’s easy to use and access, click here. We will highlight short pieces on a theme each week for the five weeks of the Season of Creation, including education, contemplation, and action.” On the website here and look for it in the weekly Newsletter
Spaces of Hope
And what is a good life? To love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind, and to love your brother and sister as yourself. So let us love our God, let us love each other in God’s unity; let us have peace in God, charity among ourselves; so that when Christ our Lord comes himself, we can say, "Lord, with your help we have done what you ordered; by your gracious favor, may we receive what you promised." Saint Augustine Sermon 154A, 6
From Sunday’s Gospel: "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14: 12-14) Demonstrate hope in your life and in your work by widening your circles of hospitality and invitation!
Deep faith and high courage urged Mother Theresa to risk already meager resources to satisfy needs wherever she was called. In her spirit, we respond to God’s call expressed in our times. Like her, we educate in schools and in other areas of urgent need; like her, we exclude no one from our concern, but are especially sensitive to youth and women and are impelled to prefer the poor. (You Are Sent 24)
Justice for Immigrants
One year after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, and more than 76,000 refugees came to the US, there is now a bipartisan bill the Afghanistan Adjustment Act 2022, to offer stability to these refugees. Read this compelling story in the NYT magazine about young women who came to the US a year ago, and now find themselves trying to understand their life in US universities. SSND “are especially sensitive to youth and women and are impelled to prefer the poor” (YAS 24)
Partnership with Haiti
Do you wonder how the turmoil in Haiti is affecting the work of the SSND in our partnership with Beyond Borders? Read this recent letter from David Diggs, Executive Director of Beyond Borders. The AMSSND supports the work of BB on the island of Lagonav. Anne Gibbons, who works closely with Beyond Borders, just returned from a visit to Haiti with BB; in this video (she is introduced at 17:10) she talks about her recent visit and the critical work of BB in Haiti during this time. So many have come and gone in their commitment to Haiti; the SSND support is so important.
Dismantling Racism
As another academic year is about to begin, this is an interesting piece from Inside Higher Ed titled: What Every College Graduate Should Know About Slavery: Twenty-three essential facts about slavery and its aftermath. It might be a good discussion starter or a source of both research and reflection for many of us.
And if you haven’t yet started to read the book Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle by Shannen Dee Williams, you really should get a copy. It is challenging, humbling, and transformative reading. Not easy, but challenging, humbling, and transformative. The Duke University Press link above also has some excellent video links about the book as well.
Climate Change
Just one meatless day a week will make a substantial difference for the earth and will be a little healthier for you. Many people are hesitant to cut back on their meat consumption because they think of tasteless tofu or some dry veggie burger they tried out of the freezer twenty years ago. Plant-based eating has come a long way!!
Finding new sources of plant-based proteins and meals can be fun and tasty. Check out these recipes for some tasty ideas for meatless meals. Just a few ingredients and very little preparation give you a broccoli cheddar quiche in no time! And here’s one with a little more time and preparation; this is a great website for delicious recipes. And there are so many great ways to make pasta dishes without meat; consider these recipes this week.
All change begins with one small step. Commit yourself to reading the Laudato Si’ reflection each week. One paragraph at a time you can stop and reflect on what we are all called to as a Laudato Si’ community! Share some of the parts of the newsletter with others who might not otherwise consider these issues.
End Human Trafficking
The SSND are members of the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking. Read the August newsletter here – the focus is on human trafficking and child and forced labor that affects our food supply – meat, dairy, chocolate, bananas, food service. Before you pick up that chocolate candy bar, think about the choice you are making. Awareness of our purchasing power and consumption of goods produced by child and forced labor is the beginning of real change.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/extreme-weather-droughts (short video)
