A Little Piece of Heaven
Over the summer, we have been putting in a little extra effort to fix up our convent property in Salisbury. With new plants and some yard maintenance, our outdoor space, humble as it is, gives a little more glory to our Creator. Our gratitude for the labor goes to a few friends of our community. We want to give special thanks to a hard-working man named Dave, a friend of ours we have known for a long time, who eagerly does such careful work and makes everything look as beautiful as can be. We couldn’t do it without you!
We are surrounded by what is sacred. The religious statues remind us of that and add a reverent spirit. We also like to honor the saints who inspire us and on whose intercession we depend on for so much in life.
This stained glass used to hang on our porch. The wind knocked it down and it got damaged. A local artisan was able to repair it for us, and now this work of art is hanging in our dining room window. Sr. Connie especially loves looking at it. The light does wonders for the soul.
Spending time outside is a great way to mark the Season of Creation, which is an annual observance from September 1 to October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. It is a time for the Christian family, and all people of goodwill, to unite and celebrate the beauty of creation. It is also a time to renew our efforts to live responsibly and care for the environment, the source of our air, water, food, and all other natural resources. Caring for the environment is caring for people.
In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (September 1, 2023), Pope Francis listed three ways that we can care for the environment, the common home of all humanity:
1). Transform our hearts. “This is essential for any other transformation to occur; it is that ‘ecological conversion’ which Saint John Paul II encouraged us to embrace: the renewal of our relationship with creation so that we no longer see it as an object to be exploited but cherish it instead as a sacred gift from our Creator. Furthermore, we should realize that an integral approach to respect for the environment involves four relationships: with God, with our brothers and sisters of today and tomorrow, with all of nature, and with ourselves.
“As to the first of these relationships, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the urgent need to recognize that creation and redemption are inseparably linked: ‘The Redeemer is the Creator and if we do not proclaim God in his full grandeur – as Creator and as Redeemer – we also diminish the value of the redemption.’ Creation refers both to God’s mysterious, magnificent act of creating this majestic, beautiful planet and universe out of nothing and to the continuing result of that act, which we experience as an inexhaustible gift. During the liturgy and personal prayer in ‘the great cathedral of creation,’ let us recall the great Artist who creates such beauty, and reflect on the mystery of that loving decision to create the cosmos.”
2). Transform our lifestyles. “Starting from grateful wonder at the Creator and his creation, let us repent of our ‘ecological sins,’ as my brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, has urged. These sins harm the world of nature and our fellow men and women. With the help of God’s grace, let us adopt lifestyles marked by less waste and unnecessary consumption, especially where the processes of production are toxic and unsustainable. Let us be as mindful as we can about our habits and economic decisions so that all can thrive – our fellow men and women wherever they may be, and future generations as well. Let us cooperate in God’s ongoing creation through positive choices: using resources with moderation and a joyful sobriety, disposing and recycling waste, and making greater use of available products and services that are environmentally and socially responsible.”
3). Transform our public policies. “Economic policies that promote scandalous wealth for a privileged few and degrading conditions for many others, spell the end of peace and justice. It is clear that the richer nations have contracted an ‘ecological debt’ that must be paid (cf. Laudato Si’, 51). The world leaders who will gather for the COP28 summit in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December must listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuels. According to the commitments undertaken in the Paris Agreement to restrain global warming, it is absurd to permit the continued exploration and expansion of fossil fuel infrastructures. Let us raise our voices to halt this injustice towards the poor and towards our children, who will bear the worst effects of climate change. I appeal to all people of good will to act in conformity with these perspectives on society and nature.”