Laudato Si!Creation Walk

Opening Prayer:

A prayer for our earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.Fill us with peace, that we may liveas brothers and sisters, harming no one.O God of the poor,help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.Bring healing to our lives,that we may protect the world and not prey on it,that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the heartsof those who look only for gainat the expense of the poor and the earth.Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,to be filled with awe and contemplation,to recognize that we are profoundly unitedwith every creatureas we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

The Creation walk at Eastern Point begins at the promontory that overlooks Brace Cove. (The flagpole is there.)

The First Station

Begin with Opening Prayer:

Take some time to reflect on the gift of sunlight. Notice how the light reflects on the surfaces around you. Give thanks and praise for the gift of light.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,especially Sir Brother Sun,Who is the day through whom You give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Over the Moon For Francis and Mary

I can almost pinpoint brother Sun’s rising on the horizon.Surprising in colors and hues, yes, but guess the point?No, I know where to look.And brother Sun rarely disappointsEven on cloudy, rainy days when sun is unseenI know where to point.That’s the point isn’t it?Brother Sun is so, so, so consistent!When it comes to brother Sun, I always know where to lookLiving on the edge, as I do. The ocean’s edge, that is.O Sole Mio!

When it comes to sister Moon, it’s another story.She is always playing hide and seekI can never pin sister Moon’s rising point. It’s pointless for me to even try.She’s always teasing me with her whereabouts.Last night I went lunar looking and sky scanningShe was no where to be found until I heard her whisperOver here! You’re searching for me in the wrong place!Sister Moon is so, so, so elusive!With her waxing and waning, always going through phases, moth-like.O Sola Luna!

Increase our faith, the apostles say!Have they never seen the moon with her waxing and waning?Don’t they know that faith is no-thing, nothing quantifiable?It’s always waxing and waning, going through phases“I believe, help my unbelief” “I believe, help my unbelief”Faith’s hiding, lunar like in the dark, no where-abouts to be seen, thenMaking an appearance in an unexpected place.It’s a must see, the moon in all her fullnessIf you have faith the size of mustard seed is a must see.

Does your God search need a good search of another Trinity?The sun, the moon and Oh! The stars

RVE

The Second Station

Continue to walk in the direction of Brace Rock. Stop and pray at “everyone’s favorite tree” Reflect on the gift of wind and air. Notice how the winds and air blow where they will. Speak to this beloved tree about its experience of the wind when it is powerful and when it is a gentle breeze. What’s the wisdom of this tree as it gives praise for the gifts of wind and air?

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,by which You cherish all that You have made.

The Third Station

Continue to walk toward Brace Rock. If you are able walk out on the rocks to come closer to the water’s edge. Take time to reflect on the power and beauty of the seas. Reflect on the gift of water.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Aye, Aye!

I eye the seaHi!, sea, I say.High seas, I see.Storm churns,Turns, topsy-turvy.See for yourself, sea says.

I’m all eyes and ears, I sayAye, Aye, sea saysHigh C’s, I hearSea sings,Scales, from sea to C

Hear for yourself, sea says.

Are you groaning?, I ask.Your high seas soundPain-filled like high C’sOff-key, more screech than reached.Labor pains, sea saysAll creation contracting, expanding, labor pangs.Don’t you see, sea says?Your pain is mineMy pangs are yours.

Aye, Aye, I say, Yes, sea, I see.Not you or me butWe as one,Reaching high, see?

RVE

The Fourth Station

Notice nature’s “Fire” in this autumnal season. It’s as if the bushes and trees are ablaze. Give thanks for the gift of “fire” that gives us warmth, heat and energy.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Autumn WeavesSt. Anthony Claret, weaver

If I were a weaverI’d be an eager oneAn eager weaver,Busy at my loom,Criss crossing colorsFiery redsBurnt orangesGlowing ambers.Beaver-like I’d weaveWith yarns of yearning.Not sticks and branches

My warp and weft,But hopes and dreamsFiery redBurnt orangeGlowing amberAnd not give a damnAbout what looms ahead.

If I were a weaverI’d be an eager oneAn eager weaver,Like Jesus was,Criss-crossing Cana and Capernaum,’Judea and JerusalemWeaving words of God’s reign,His warp and weftJustice and compassionFiery words, ablaze and aglow.He did not give a damnAbout the Christ/cross that loomed ahead,

If I were a weaverI’d be a busy one.A busy weaverLike Paul wasChrist-crossing Sin, slavery, Salvation, sanctification.Weaving words in Christ,Death-defying His warp and weftFreedom and ForgivenessFierce and fiery wordsA blaze of gloryNo damming God’s graceIn Jesus Christ

If you wonder if God’s a weaverJust behold the autumn leavesFiery red,Burnt orangeGlowing amberCriss-crossing colorsChrist-crossingAt warp speed!

The Fifth Station

When are ready, enter one of the trails and walk slowly observing, the trees, leaves, bushes, and earth’s floor. Be aware of your own footfalls on Mother earth. Give thanks and praise for this Holy Ground.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,Mother Earthwho sustains and governs us,producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Feel free to follow the trails where they lead you. You may find yourself on the trail of the Stations of the Cross.

When I Am Among the TreesWhen I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust,equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,they give off such hints of gladness.I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,in which I have goodness, and discernment,and never hurry through the worldbut walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leavesand call out, “Stay awhile.”The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,“and you too have comeinto the world to do this, to go easy, to be filledwith light, and to shine.”

Mary Oliver

The Sixth Station

Eventually you will emerge from the trails near the retreat wing. Continue to walk along the driveway and stop at Niles Pond. Give praise and thanks for the swans that come and visit here during certain times of the year and for the ducks that find a watery home here.

The Swan Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –An armful of white blossoms,

A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leanedinto the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,Biting the air with its black beak?Did you hear it, fluting and whistlingA shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfallKnifing down the black ledges?And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feetLike black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?And have you changed your life?

– Mary Oliver 

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees 

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

     love what it loves.                         

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

The Seventh Station

Continue on the road that leads you back to the Ocean. Take some time to reflect on the Cove as a symbol of God’s protection and care for you and for Creation. Read the following from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si!

233. The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely. Hence, there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face.[159] The ideal is not only to pass from the exterior to the interior to discover the action of God in the soul, but also to discover God in all things. Saint Bonaventure teaches us that “contemplation deepens the more we feel the working of God’s grace within our hearts, and the better we learn to encounter God in creatures outside ourselves”.[160] 234. Saint John of the Cross taught that all the goodness present in the realities and experiences of this world “is present in God eminently and infinitely, or more properly, in each of these sublime realities is God”.[161] This is not because the finite things of this world are really divine, but because the mystic experiences the intimate connection between God and all beings, and thus feels that “all things are God”.[162] Standing awestruck before a mountain, he or she cannot separate this experience from God, and perceives that the interior awe being lived has to be entrusted to the Lord: “Mountains have heights and they are plentiful, vast, beautiful, graceful, bright and fragrant. These mountains are what my Beloved is to me. Lonely valleys are quiet, pleasant, cool, shady and flowing with fresh water; in the variety of their groves and in the sweet song of the birds, they afford abundant

recreation and delight to the senses, and in their solitude and silence, they refresh us and give rest. These valleys are what my Beloved is to me”.[163]

Be Still!

How be stillWhen world’s woesWhip all into a frenzyFeeding fears ofStark infested waters.Cross winds,World winds,Wailing, while at the Fourth watch he

Walks forthTowards them.Storm-tossed seasCannot seize the One whose sighSummons silence.

But how be stillWhen virus’ Seismic showOpens maw and mawSwallows one up andDrains down,Into another abyss,Where one quakes And quivers, Wondering if there will ever besolid ground to walk onWhile at the fourth watchHe walks forthTowards us,Closing the gap,Fear’s chasm nowAbridged.Gaping maws of earthCannot consume the One whose wordCommand calm.

But how be stillWhen fire powersFear and frenzy,When there is no portIn a storm andAll “rues” are rubble now,Now no ruse, no masks to hide behind.Fear’s here and nowBurns away hopes andDreams are swallowed up In night maws, Frightened by the ghostsOf past wars and lost lives

Will He watch And walk with them?Will fiery furnaceConsume the OneWhose body is brokenWhose blood is poured outWhose spirit is the breath of life For all?Will the cacophony of Sounds fromWhipping winds,Quaking earth,Flaming fireDrown out theVoice of the OneWho summons silence,commands calm,and who Still speaks?

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The Eighth Station

Continue to walk down the dirt road that parallels the cove in the direction that leads to the retreat house. You will see an entrance to a trail that leads you back into the woods. On the right side you will see the Labyrinth. If you feel inclined walk th Labyrinth reflecting on the gifts of creation you have just seen.

Finish your creation walk either along the water or across the lawn. Go to the chapel and spend some time reflecting on the awesome mystery of the Incarnation and the Eucharist, how God in Jesus Christ becomes flesh and blood for us and “bread that is broken and shared.”

Pray the closing prayer of Laudato Si!

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.They came forth from your all-powerful hand;they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love. Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,through you all things were made.You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother, you became part of this earth and you gazed upon this world with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory. Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your lightyou guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our heartsand you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate youin the beauty of the universe,for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulnessfor every being that you have made.Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this worldas channels of your lovefor all the creatures of this earth,for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.

Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak and care for this world in which we live.

The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us protect all life to prepare a better future for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.

Praise be to you! Amen.