Cosmos and the Body of Christ

Early in his tenure as pope Francis called attention to contemporary gnosticism, “a purely subjective faith whose only interest is a certain experience or a set of ideas and bits of information which are meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings” (Joy of the Gospel, 94). Early in its life the church faced gnosticism. St. Irenaeus of Lyons was confronted by it and responded to it.

Jesuit John Moffatt noted that the ancient bishop “a story affirming God’s relation to the cosmos that binds the Eucharist into the goodness of the created order and the practice of social justice and care of creation.” Most fitting as contemporary Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

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Wiki-image Procissão de Corpus Christi (Goiânia, Brasil) 2019 by “Eugenio Hansen, OFS | CC BY-SA 4.0"

World Environment Day 2020

Its theme is biodiversity. Many individuals issue a call to “wake up” and help the environment grow health again.

"You are ignoring us”

The “‘structural collapse’ of the Amazon Region” is more possible, say the bishops of that region. Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network’s Cardinal-President, Cardinal-Vice President, and its Secretary signed a statement made public “early Monday morning.” While many in the world consider how the world can be different after the pandemic, in the Amazon region much of the same activity seems to continue apace.

The Bishops of Latin America call for urgent action to avoid a humanitarian and environmental tragedy in the #Amazonia region.https://t.co/wzqhpQYcIB

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 18, 2020

Integral Ecology Week: 16-24 May

Integral ecology runs through “ Laudato Si!—On Care for Our Common Home.” Pope Francis invites everyone to revisit and celebrate his 2015 encyclical for the sake of our planet, its biodiversity and its cultures. Thinking Faith posted an anniversary alert with some anniversary resources.

In our latest alert: Pope Francis invites us to use Laudato si' week (16-24 May) to build a better world together. Plus: International Day of Families; and Emily Dickinson. https://t.co/YSmhfTRNVy

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 15, 2020

Francis and the 50th Anniversary

Pope Francis dedicated is catechesis today to the annual observance of Earth Day:

an occasion for renewing our commitment to love and care for our common home and for the weaker members of our human family. As the tragic coronavirus pandemic has taught us, we can overcome global challenges only by showing solidarity with one another and embracing the most vulnerable in our midst.

America Magazine tweeted more.

On 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Pope Francis calls for ‘ecological conversion’ https://t.co/VZfGkzqTae

— America Magazine (@americamag) April 22, 2020

Thinking Ahead to. . .

...cleaner air. When the Coronavirus emerged and China closed factories, the air benefitted quickly. So did human health. A study, still awaiting peer review at the end of last week, indicated that certain pollutants have longterm effects that make Covid-19 “more lethal.”

National Geographic posted about the study. “Air pollution has intensified the pandemic, but the pandemic has—temporarily—cleaned the skies.” The subtitle of the post poses a question to help us think about our future: “Will today's cleaner air inspire us to do better?”

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Wiki-image Yellow column by “Arntor | CC BY-SA 4.0"

Auto-Pilot No More

Pope Francis pleads humans move wisely and justly: the way to emerge from the pandemic and into a more integrally lived and shared world.

“I hope that this time of danger will free us from operating on automatic pilot, shake our sleepy consciences and allow a humanist and ecological conversion that puts an end to the idolatry of money and places human life and dignity at the center."https://t.co/Pqj32XS1ZX pic.twitter.com/0y3njv7keU

— America Magazine (@americamag) April 12, 2020

Degrees

Anxiety registers readily in folks these days—in varying degrees: for some more intense; for others, less intense. Anyone may profit from this meditation for the anxious. Bookmarking keeps it handy to use every day and as often as needed.

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The UN highlights the importance of freshwater annually on 22 March: World Water Day. The world’s current circumstances make it poignant this year even as it fosters hope.

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Wiki-image by Uoaei1 Blautopf CC BY-SA 4.0

“Vital and advances environmental goals”

Catholic Energies, based in Washington, D.C., helps organizations use solar power. A recent initiative will allow Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington to earn “enough energy credits to offset the electricity costs of 12 of its properties across the District.” 

 Apart from their faith-driven funding, the solar panels are unusual in another way. They will sit atop a “pollinator meadow” of 650,000 nectar-bearing, flowering plants including black-eyed Susans, orange coneflowers and milkweed. The meadow is meant to reinvigorate local bee and butterfly populations. Source: The Washington Post. 

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Wiki-image by David Monniaux Solar Panel CC BY-SA 3.0

Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus

Jesuit General Superior Fr. Arturo Sosa promulgated the Universal Apostolic Preferences for the next decade. He summarized them in this video.            

First Country To Ban Mining

America: The Jesuit Review reported that Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas, leader of the Archdiocese of San Salvador and president of El Salvador’s Episcopal Conference, requested a legal ban to mining of “gold and other metals.” A legal ban was the only recourse because of the nation’s lax mining laws. The Archbishop proceeded

in complete agreement with [Pope Francis’] encyclical ‘Laudato Si’,’ and together with the poorest communities directly threatened by mining…. In our small, densely populated country, [mining] would contaminate the waters…and cause irreparable damage to the environment, to the fauna and flora and, mostly gravely, to people’s lives and health.

El Salvador’s legislative assembly enacted the ban on 29 March.

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Wiki-image PD-ineligible

More Pipeline Woes

Estimates from the December 2016 Belle Fourche Pipeline spill were low. The current count is three times larger! “The December spill took place less than 200 miles away from the main camp where most of these ‘water protecters’ were based at the time.” Read the CSM estimates-story.

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Wiki-image PD-US 

Bearings Readjusted

Landlubbers can walk along a port and become disoriented. Coastal dwellers ought not to gloat. They may not really know what lay directly across the ocean—according to Web Cartographer Andy Woodruff. Sure to surprise is what lay “Beyond the Sea.”  

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Wiki-image of Hafen und Felsen von Monaco-La Turbie by Tobi87 CC BY-SA 3.0

Encyclical—What It Is; and a Guide to the One Francis Issued Today

With the official release of Pope Francis’ second encyclical Vatican correspondent Inés San Martín offered “a quick refresher on what an ‘encyclical’ actually is, and why it matters that Francis is devoting one to this subject [“the care of creation].” She also explained the correct spelling of the second word of its title.

To help read it Vatican Radio issued a “press guide.” It is a “useful guide for an initial reading of the Encyclical. It will help you to grasp the overall development and identify the basic themes.”

Archbishop Kurtz, President of the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued this brief statement welcoming the encyclical.

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Wiki-image Big Blue Marble PD-USGov

Happy Earth Day!

Among the global coverage and resources U.S. Catholic has posted a special section concerned with things environmental. The issues are many. Any help to sift through them and understand them better is worthwhile.

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Wiki-mage of soldiers planting trees PD-USGov

Helping Those Affected by Haiyan/Yolanda

The former USAID Director Andrew Natsios explained on the NewsHour last night that cash donations to a number of agencies are the most helpful way to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (called Yolanda by Filipinos). 

One way to help:  Contributions to the Philippine Jesuit Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The  (PJF) is a charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the US Internal Revenue Code. The PJF “is the only official fundraising organization in the United States for Jesuits and Jesuit works in the Philippines.”

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Wiki-image of track of Haiyan 2013 PD-Release.

Prayers for Victims and Survivors

Billed as super typhoon category 5 Haiyan has devastated areas. CNN’s slide-show warns views of graphic images. Earlier Pope Francis “expressed his closeness to the people of the Philippines and has assured them of his prayers.” He tweeted to the world: “I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines.”

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Wiki-image of Typhoon Haiyan public domain.

Cleanest in 50

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been passionate about cleaning the air of New York City. He said Thursday, “‘There’s no new science here. Stop putting the stuff in the air and you will clean up the air.’” The air has been the cleanest in 50 years. The mayor received an award for that achievement.

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Wiki-image of clean air buttons public domain.

“Inevitable March Toward Disaster”

The NYT reported what has long been feared and denied. Humans continue to increase levels of CO₂ in the world. “The moment is approach-ing when no measurement of the ambient air anywhere on earth, in any season, will produce a reading below 400 [parts per million].” 

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Wiki-image prepared by Robert A. Rohde for Global Warming Art of CO₂ variations CC BY-SA 3.0.

Holy Glowing! Ratman

Alcatraz Island has rats. Some entomology students from UC Davis were checking the population, when one student spied this “greenish glow.”

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Wiki-image of aircraft and bioluminescence public domain.