O God,
In the beauty of this season,
with its bounty and blessings of land, water, and sky,
give me gratitude for plentiful harvest,
changing leaves, early sunsets, and cooler air.
Help me listen to the voice of creation.
Turn my heart to you.
In my innermost space,
let me listen more carefully
to creation, to others and to you.
Help me listen to the voice of creation.
As I am touched in my listening
by your incarnational presence,
remind me of your love and mercy,
your initiative and activity.
Help me listen to the voice of creation.
Show me your attentiveness
to the “cry of the earth and cry of the poor,”1
to the “little ones” wounded by a throw-away culture,
and to those suffering due to natural disasters.
Help me listen to the voice of creation.
Listening to the voice of creation,
help me to join in holy witness
to protect those most vulnerable
and to protect our common home.
Amen.
This prayer was inspired by the statement of Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop David J. Malloy chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, for the 2022 World Day of Prayer for Creation.
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[1] Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, no. 49