An August Walk
It was a beautiful sunny day.
I walked out the front door of Marywood.
Looking up at the bright blue sky,
I heard a choir of cheerful sparrows greeting me.
Beautiful flowers were growing along the sidewalk.
When the sidewalk ended, I stepped on the tar road
Walking along under the shade of some trees.
The road continued up a short hill
Where I met a patch of yellow dandelions
Who greeted me with a cheerful “Hello.”
Crossing the parking lot,
I met some beautiful tall yellow sunflowers
Who seemed to say, “Happy to see you.”
Reaching the front door of Aquinata Hall,
I saw two large planters filled with beautiful flowers
Who seemed to say, “Welcome, come and stay a while.”
~ Sister Catherine Anderson OP
Creation Canticles: Reflections on the Natural World
Pope Francis began the encyclical, “Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home” describing the human relationship with the earth through images from the hymn “Canticle of the Creatures” by St. Francis of Assisi.
In this hymn, St. Francis invites all his brother and sister creatures—whether minerals, plants or animals—to praise their Creator.
“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Praise be to you, my Lord through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.” ~ Pope Francis, 1 Laudato Si’ Encyclical
This reference to the Canticles inspires us to eco-spirituality — a manifestation of the spiritual connection between human beings and the environment.
As we seek transformative eco-spiritual experiences, Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters and Associates began writing poems and reflections. “We start from the witness that ecological spirituality involves a firm inner conviction that God is the source of all creation which is held together by God’s love,” says Sister Mary Ann Barrett OP.
We hope others will enjoy these inspirational messages.