Laudato Si during Lent

Lent is a time for reflection, for prayer and fasting, in preparation for the great mystery of our Catholic faith. Many individuals spend more time looking inward, reflecting on where they are in their personal spiritual journey, and that is important, but moving outward is important too.

This Lent the parish’s Laudato Si Circle will be offering a series of reflections on ways parishioners might respond to the teaching of the Catholic Church that concern for life and for all of God’s creation, an important part of our spiritual discipline. As Pope Francis put it in his landmark encyclical, Laudato Si, “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (Laudato si’, #217). This is especially important to us as a Jesuit parish, as “caring for our common home” is one of the four apostolic priorities of the Society of Jesus.

In the coming weeks, six reflections will alternate between ways to “fast” that are more conscious of the impact we are having on our planet, and ways to add an outward focus to our prayer activity by turning the ordinary activities of daily life into prayerful choices. Hopefully, this Lent will become a time for strengthening your love of God by strengthening your love of God’s creation.

Dan Sullivan, member of Laudato Si Circle at St. Ignatius Parish