Prayers For The Environment

The environment the sum total of all surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and other living things, which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage.

The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally, meaning in this case not artificial. The term is most often applied to the Earth or some parts of Earth.

We have collected some of the best prayers for the protection and care of the environment to use in request to God. May these prayers for safety bring you comfort and peace of mind. May these prayers for strength encourage your spirit and strengthen your faith.

A Prayer for the Care of the Environment

O God,
enlarge within us the sense of communion
we have with all living things,
to whom you gave the earth as a home,
which we share with them.
Grant us the courage to care for your creation,
as just and loving caretakers.

In the past
we have exercised our dominion with ruthless cruelty
so that the voice of the earth,
which should have gone up to you in song,
has instead been a groan of suffering.

We are thankful for your abundant creation;
may we honor your beautiful work
with reverential care and love.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

— Saint Basil, additions and adaptations by David Bennett

Wisdom to Care for the Earth

Lord, grant us the wisdom to care for the earth and till it.
Help us to act now for the good of future generations and all your creatures.
Help us to become instruments of a new creation,
Founded on the covenant of your love. Amen

– From The Cry of the Earth

Holy Spirit, We need Your Help

Holy Spirit, We need Your Help

Holy Spirit we need help!

Our planetary home is hurting; global warming and climate change with millions of humans uprooted, and fish, flower and fauna facing dire extinction.

Holy Spirit hear us!

We stewards of creation plead human need for counsel before using our God given gifts communally with many others

to repair the harm of our greed with faith in your guidance.

Holy Spirit help us!

We are too ego bent to one colour of the spectrum, our need is urgent for inspiration so truths of our baptismal faith

rend our stubborn hearts to solidarity of intent.

Holy Spirit inspire us!

We await clergys’ help ordained to pilot our prayers within our sacramental sanctuaries sustaining our own lay callings

for social and eco-justice; help heal our home.

Holy Spirit guide us!

Eco-prayers

Lord, we praise and thank you for the beauty and goodness of creation around us.

* * * * * * * * *

Lord, help us to maintain a reverent attitude towards nature, threatened from all sides today, in such a way that we may restore it completely to the condition of brother/sister and to its role of usefulness to all humankind for the glory of God the Creator.

* * * * * * * * *

Over the past century, we have noticed the diminution of the living diversity of creation and of the health of the ecosystems that support it; Help us Lord, to do our part to stop further decline in the health of our planet by the way we live our lives.

* * * * * * * * *

Lord, we pray that people everywhere become more caring towards the environment in which they live, and that politicians, planners & developers seriously consider environmental concerns when making decisions.

Intercessions for the climate and environment

We pray for the Church: that she may be a beacon of hope throughout the world, reminding
us all of our responsibility to care for and protect God’s precious gift of creation.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for the world, our common home: that through God’s grace we may hear its cry of
the damage done and be moved to protect it for future generations to enjoy.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for those people who are already facing droughts, floods and storms: that God may
grant them strength and hope for the future as they work to adapt to the changing climate.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for our parish and our local community: that through the grace of God we may hear
the urgent cry of the earth and of the poor and be inspired to respond at this crucial time.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for the world we live in: that God may open our eyes to recognise the goodness of
all creation and help us to do what we can to restore and care for the wonderful gift that we
have been given.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for world leaders: that God may grant them wisdom to make just decisions which
respect the earth and all that lives in it, especially those who are poorest and most
vulnerable.
Lord, in your mercy…

We pray for our local community: that through God’s grace we may be good neighbours to
each other and to the whole of creation, restoring and caring for all that God has made.
Lord, in your mercy…

Prayer for Sustainability of Our Earth

Creator God, we can choose to live differently! Inspire us as we make
choices so that we will recognize the impact our lives have on
our environment and our human family around the globe.
We pray to the Lord: Lord, help to reclaim the future!

Loving God, we can reclaim the future! Encourage us to be people of hope as we
look forwards in faith, knowing that we can build a world of justice and peace.
We pray to the Lord: Lord, help to reclaim the future!

Brilliant God, we can choose to live in a way that creates a better
world for everyone. Help us to know that our individual actions are
made in solidarity with our sisters and brothers.
We pray to the Lord: Lord, help to reclaim the future!

Wonderful God, you invite us to live simply, to live sustainably,
and to live in solidarity with the poor. So help us to respond to that
invitation with conviction and generosity.
We pray to the Lord: Lord, help to reclaim the future!

God of justice, listen to us as we pray this day.
In the silence of our hearts, we place all our needs before you.
(Allow some time for silent prayer.)
We pray to the Lord: Lord, help to reclaim the future!

God of grace and love,
we bring you our prayers, our commitment, our gifts to you this day.
Let us who have a keen dedication and awareness of your creation and all that it brings
to the human family, have courage and conviction that we are able to contribute to the
sustainability of the Earth. You who are our Provident God, let your Providence lead
the way in our Health and Services.

Pour out your blessing upon us today. May each of our actions reveal our awareness that
we are partners with You in the creation and sustainability of this earth that you have
given to us to appreciate and enjoy. We ask this in the name of your Son.
Amen

 

World Environment Day Prayer

Originator of all creation, you made a world full of beauty,
an infinite expression of your glory and love for all.

Let us not forget the gift we have been given,
that we may continue to act as guardians and stewards of all your creation.

Fill us with awe and wonder today and each day as we behold your infinite creativity. Give us the courage and strength to view and engage our environment as the sacred space it is and to work to protect it from corruption and exploitation.

May we view all you have created with reverence and admiration,
that we may be reminded of your constant presence in our midst.

As we walk each day, let us remember all those who have come before and walked these same lands.

We must not forget that what we have been given is not only for us, but for the generations to come. Let us cultivate a world teeming with life, where a safe enriching environment is abundant enough for all, that God’s love and glory may shine through for generations to come.

In your name we pray, Amen.

A Prayer from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ for Our Environment

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 live as 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 hearts of those who look only for gain at 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 united with every creature as 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. Amen.

— This prayer taken from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’:

---

God of life,
we praise you for the beauty of creation,
its richness and variety;
yet, through greed and ignorance,
we scar your world with plastic waste
and throw so much away.
Make us more like Jesus,
treading gently on our common home,
and breathe your Spirit on us,
that we may care more deeply for your Earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

— Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Dudley

General Prayer for the Earth

Most gracious God, we come before you to pray for the wellbeing of the planet. You alone know the full extent of the destruction we have wrought to your beautiful handiwork, and what needs to be done to remedy it. We pray for the people around the globe who suffer because of environmental damage. We pray for the defenseless creatures harmed or made extinct by our selfishness and ignorance. We pray for the oceans, air, mountains, plants, and soil, that life and health may again pulse in them. We pray that we humans have a change of heart and stop harming the planet. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us that we may have the passion and wisdom to work effectively to restore your creation. Guide us in our personal, church and community efforts. Give us strength to continue on with this work when it is difficult and requires sacrifice. Bless the Earth and all its life in every way. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Petitions for the Earth

That the Earth be reverenced and cared for as God intends,
let us pray to the Lord.

That we stop poisoning the soil and seas with trash and toxins,
let us pray to the Lord.

That we repent of our greed and live simply and lightly on the Earth,
let us pray to the Lord.

That all members of this faith community take seriously the Bishops’ mandate to protect the Earth, let us pray to the Lord.

That global warming is halted and reversed before more damage can occur,
let us pray to the Lord.

That protection of the Earth be a top political priority,
let us pray to the Lord.

Prayer for Earth Day

Heavenly Father and Mother, thank you for our life-giving Earth that we celebrate today on Earth Day. Bless all the celebrations, educational programs, and projects that seek to express our appreciation for this great gift. May we be zealous for the Earth not just today, but every day of our lives. Guide us in the monumental and important mission of restoring the integrity of creation. We dedicate our lives anew to you and to this great work of our time. This we pray through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.