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INTENTION : |
For the care of water. Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.
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FOCUS
In continuity with the social teaching of the Church on caring for our common home, this intention places us again before the interdependence of all creatures loved by God and worthy of respect. The growing scarcity of fresh water, pollution of water sources, and inequality in access to this essential resource for life critically affect humanity. We urgently need to learn to choose a simpler, more human lifestyle, more connected with Mother Earth. In the word "care" lies a profound commitment that echoes the vulnerability of all creation, that listens to the cry of the earth, and that focuses on peaceful, respectful, and equitable coexistence among us to foster a deep respect for all creation.
ATTITUDE OF THE HEART
Care for the use and fair management of water.
Safeguard water with gratitude and justice. Water is a gift, not a possession. It is a source of life, not an instrument of power. To care for it is to protect the most vulnerable, defend human dignity, and praise the Creator. To safeguard water with gratitude and justice is to live a spirituality of communion with the earth and with our brothers and sisters. (cf Step 8 of The Way of the Heart: A mission of compassion for the world).
OTHER DAILY ATTITUDES TO LIVE THIS PRAYER INTENTION
1. Value water as a gift from God:
Become aware of the daily gift that water is in your life. Begin each day by giving thanks for having clean water and pray for those who don't.
2. Avoid waste in daily life:
Care for water at home, at work, and in every simple action. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, fix leaks, and use only what is necessary.
3. Educate by example:
Teach children, youth, and adults to respect this vital resource. Talk with your family or community about its importance and pray for its protection.
4. Unite faith and ecological commitment:
See the care of water as part of your faith lived out in the world. Get involved in ecological initiatives that promote fair access to water.
5. Intercede for those without access to water:
Prayer for ecological justice can also transform reality. Offer a weekly prayer for drought-stricken regions or affected communities.
MONTHLY PRAYER
Lord of Life,
You have given us the gift of water,
source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.
It quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds.
We thank You,
because it is also a symbol of Your grace
and love that renews us through Baptism.
Today we ask You to teach us to safeguard it
with gratitude, justice, and responsibility.
Forgive us for turning it into a commodity,
forgetting that it is a universal gift,
a right without borders, meant for all Your children.
We see with pain so many brothers and sisters
who lack clean water,who walk for miles to find it,
who become ill due to its scarcity.
May Your Spirit make us pilgrims of the essential,
able to live with simplicity,
denouncing waste and pollution,
defending the right of every brother and sister
to drink without fear and without inequality.
May our care for water
be a sign of love for the Creator
and a commitment to the lives of the poor,
educating new generations to value
and protect the Earth's resources.
Amen.
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