“The ecological crisis is a
moral issue [that] has assumed such proportions as to
be the responsibility of everyone.”
"We need to find God, and he cannot
be found in noise and restlessness.
Prayers for the Homestead
Canticle Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.
Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.
The Canticle of Brother Son
or The Praises of the Creatures 1
[CantSol]
The Canticle of Brother Sun is the very first work of literature in the Italian language. St. Francis composed it most likely during the winter of 1224-5 A.D.—possibly while at the Church of San Damiano, in Assisi 2—as grace, born of suffering, urged him to praise and glorify the Most Holy Trinity even unto death. The Canticle of Brother Sun first appears in the historical record in a reference made by Bl. Thomas of Celano in his Vita Prima, written 1228 A.D. 3
Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord,
Thine be the praises, the glory, and the honor and every blessing (cf. Apoc. 4:9.11).
To Thee alone, Most High, do they belong
and no man is worthy to mention Thee.
May Thou be praised, my Lord, with all Thy creatures (cf. Tob. 8:7),
especially mister brother sun,
of whom is the day, and Thou enlightens us through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant with a great splendor,
of Thee, Most High, does he convey the meaning
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for 4 sister moon and the stars (cf. Ps. 148:3),
in heaven Thou has made them clear and precious and beautiful
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for brother wind,
and for the air and the cloudy and the clear weather and every weather (cf. Dan 3:64-65), through which to all Thy creatures Thou gives sustenance (cf. Ps. 103:13-14)
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for sister water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste
May Thou be praised, my lord, for brother fire (cf. Dan 3:66),
through whom Thou illumines the night,
and he is handsome and jocund and robust and strong
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth, (cf. Dan 3:74)
who sustains us and governs,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and green plants (cf. Ps 103:13-14)
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for the sake of Thy love 5 (cf. Mt 6:12),
and endure infirmity and tribulation
Blessed those who endure them in peace (cf. Mt 5:10),
because by Thee, Most High, will they be crowned
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, bodily death,
whom no man living can escape
Woe to those, who die in mortal sin: 6
blessed those whom she 7 will find in Thy most holy desires,
because the second death will do them no evil (cf. Apoc 2:11; 20:6)
Praise and bless my Lord (cf. Dan 3:85),
and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility!
The Praises of God Most High
[LaudDei]
Thou art" the Holy Lord, the only "God, who works wonders" 12 (Ps 76:15). ·
Thou art strong, Thou art great (cf. Ps 85:10), Thou art the Most High,
Thou art the Omnipotent King, Thou "Holy Father" (cf. Jn 17:11) King "of Heaven and
Earth." (Mt 11:25). · Thou art Three and One Lord, God
of gods (cf. Ps 135:2), Thou art good, all good, the Highest Good,
Love 13
Lord God living and true (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). · Thou art Charity;
Thou art Wisdom, Thou art humility, "Thou art patience" (Ps 70:5),
Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness; Thou art security, Thou art quiet,
Thou art our Hope 14
Thou art joy; and gladness, Thou art justice,
all 15 our
Thou art temperance, Thou art riches unto sufficiency. ·
Thou art beauty, Thou art gentleness,
"Thou art Protector" (Ps 30:5), Thou art guard and our defender,
Thou art fortitude (cf. Ps 42:2), Thou art refreshment. · Thou art our hope, 16
Thou art our faith. Thou art our charity,
Thou art our eternal life: 17
Thou art our entire sweetness, Great and admirable Lord, God Omnipotent, merciful Savior.
WE CHOOSE THE COUNTRY
(from the Rural Life Prayerbook)
WE BELIEVE that:
Farming is a noble Christian occupation.
The farm home is a most suitable place to rear a Christian family.
The good earth is the greatest material gift of God to man.
WE KNOW that:
In this vocation we country people work closely with God in producing the essential elements of life.
By making ourselves aware of the special graces and opportunities of this way of life, and by cooperating with them, we and our families can most readily give glory to God and grow in holiness and happiness.
The earth returns greatest honor to God when through our care and labor, it brings forth an abundance for our family's needs and those of society, for this generation and for those to come.
WE PROCLAIM that:
We will strive always to appreciate and hold fast to the spiritual values of our vocation and to prevent the materialiLsm of this age from blinding us to them.
We will model our homes on that of Nazareth; by working, learning, playing, and especially praying together we will strengthen our faith in God and our mutual love and unity; we will fulfill our obligation to be good neighbors, faithful parishioners, loyal and active citizens.
We will regard our land as God's land; as stewards of His bounty we will conserve and improve it so that it will increasingly continue to give glory to Him.
WE PRAY that:
Through God's grace we may have wisdom and strength to grow constantly in the virtues necessary for holy rural living:
Faith, Hope firmly founded in knowledge of God's wisdom and providence, Love, Patience with the slow deliberate cycle of seasons and years, Fortitude, Temperance, Compassion, Mercy, Zeal.