[This year, the Patna Province’s Laudato Si’ Committee is publishing prayer services to support their goal of connecting with ecological spirituality. You are invited to use this prayer service for your personal prayer time or in community.]
Pray with the Universe
by Vimala Karakattu, SCN
(Set up the place of prayer conducive- have a glass jar with water, an oil lamp, flowers etc.)
Leader: The cosmos that we know and experience surrounds us as well as is within us. During this hour of prayer, let us make an effort to get consciously immersed in the cosmos of which we are a part. As you take a few deep breath, become aware of the AIR that flows smoothly in and out of your nostrils………….. become aware of the firm ground, the Earth, on the lap of which you are seated………just look around and see the SPACE that holds each of you and the things around you………….slowly bring your eyes to the jar and the burning lamp, before you… let your eyes rest on them…..the WATER in the jar and the gently dancing FLAME in the lamp……
Reader 1: (Read meditatively) Slowly close your eyes and allow your mind to stretch to visualize the whole of the COSMOS— the vast space you call the sky and the earth….. the water bodies such as the oceans, rivers, streams and springs that sparkle and dance as they move, …… the green forests and snow-capped mountains that stand majestically,…. the blazing sun of noon and the shading colours of the sky as the sun recedes, and the star-lit nights ….. the blowing winds and gentle breeze, the wild flames and the glowing embers in the fireplace in the kitchen…. Just allow yourself to get immersed in the COSMOS!
Leader: The universe around us is formed of FIVE elements: the earth, water, fire, air, and space. These are the foundational pillars of existence. We are deeply connected with these elements. They mirror the building blocks of our bodies and the environment around us. We are made of these elements, and we find deep connectedness in our being both physically and spiritually with them. Any simple effort to get in touch with the cosmos fills us with peace and joy and we experience harmony within. Let us raise our hearts to God our Creator in gratitude as we appreciate the beauty and experience harmony within and with the nature.
Hymn: “Author of Beauty”
Reader 1: We now take time to appreciate each element and its significance in our lives
and pray to God for grace that these elements manifest.
1. Leader: Earth gives us a firm ground to live. It provides all our needs for
nourishment. In fact, our body is made from the earth. Our ancestors have found a
place to rest in it …. Our roots are with the earth. And we pray:
All: Mother Earth, I honour the ground on which I stand and move, the soil that
sustains me, the food that nourishes me. May I remain grounded, resilient and
deeply rooted in the present moment!
2. Leader: Water is the life-giving fluid within our bodies and around us. Without water
nothing survives. It cleanses, refreshes and softens! And we pray:
All: Sacred waters! You wash away all impurities and adapt to every obstacle in your
path. Cleanse my mind of negativity, soften my heart and allow peace and joy to
flow freely through my life!
3. Leader: Fire purifies and brings energy. It brings light and heat removing the
darkness and coldness. It transforms. It brings newness and destroys what is evil.
Fire is very essential for our life and life on earth. We pray:
All: Divine Fire! You bring light into darkness, and you have the power to transform.
Burn away my doubts, fears and ego. Ignite my inner spark illuminating my true
purpose and warming the hearts of those around us.
4. Leader: Air- we don’t see the air, but our very existence begins and ends with the
movement of this element. Often, we are unaware of its movement and actions
within our bodies…. Yet we know it is the breath of God that keeps us alive! Let us
become aware of the ‘Prana’ or Life force that is unseen yet is in continuous
movement within us and around us. We pray:
All: Sacred Air, you are the breath of life that connects all living beings. Fill me with
vitality, clear my mind of stagnation, and carry away all my fears and worries. May I
float through life with grace and ease! May I be aware that I share the same life
giving breath with every creature and be mindful of them!
5. Leader: Space: Let us broaden our awareness to encompass the space- the vast
expanse of the space around us and the sky that holds innumerable galaxies and
the ever-growing outer space which is beyond our imagination. Become aware of the
emptiness and silence it holds and the oneness of the universe!
We pray:
All: Infinite sky! You hold all other elements and provide room for existence to
unfold. Empty my mind of limitations and expand my consciousness to embrace the
unknown and connect me to the boundless universe, cherishing silence and
wonder! You are invited to spend few minutes in silence in union with each of these
five elements. (Play soft music for a few minutes allowing oneself to enter silence.)
Leader: We conclude the prayer by sending vibrations of peace and joy to the entire
universe by singing the bhajan “ Sab ka mangal….” or the hymn “Canticle of the Sun”.