An eco-spirituality through the seasons
By Al Fritsch, SJ
AN ECO-SPIRITUALITY
THROUGH THE SEASONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN JANUARY
A. EXPERIENCES OF THE SACRED
1. Sacred Sights
2. Sacred Sounds
3. Sacred Tastes
4. Sacred Aroma
5. Sacred Touch
B. REFLECTIONS ON THE GLORY OF CREATION
1. To See the Mystery
2. To Hear the Call
3. To Taste God's Creation
4. To Detect Harmony within Creation
5. To Touch Earth
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmental Action: Develop a Conservation Ethic
2. Establish a Specific Prayer Time
3. Speak with Others about Creation
SUMMARY: AN EMPIRICAL START
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN FEBRUARY
A. EXPERIENCES OF DESOLATION
1. Desolate Sights
2. Sounds of Mourning
3. Tastes of Desolation
4. Clouds and Clouds
5. Touching a Bit of Hell
B. REFLECTIONS ON NEED FOR REDEMPTION
1. The Fall: Stumbling when not Looking
2. Discordance and Discord and Earth
3. The Taste of Temptation
4. The Odor of Sanctity
5. Touching All through Compassion
C. ACTIONS
1.Environmental Actions: Record/Monitor Ecological Damage
2. Periodic Retreats to help Confront Desolation
3. Negative and Positive Environmental Actions
SUMMARY: SEEKING A COMPASSIONATE MODEL
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN MARCH
A. EXPERIENCES OF DELIVERANCE
1. Observe the Soaring
2. Listen to the Floods of Spring
3. Smell and Taste the Dandelions
4. Whoa, Fresh Horseradish!
5. Freshly‑Turned Soil Beckoning Us to Touch
B. REFLECTIONS ON THE COMING OF THE LORD
1. Observing the First Signs of Deliverance
2. Incarnation Event: A Word is Spoken
3. Jesus as Healer
4. Jesus as Teacher
5. Jesus as Liberator
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmental actions: Take up an Environmental Issue
2. An Activist Prayer of Consolation
3. Charity Versus Social Justice
SUMMARY: TOWARDS A RADICAL COMPASSION
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN APRIL
A. EXPERIENCES OF TRANSFORMATION
1. The Sight of Fear Turning to Joy
2. Sounds of Crowing and Sizzling
3. The Mystifying Aromas of Spring
4. Relishing the Bitter Sweet Life
5. Basking in the Spring Sun
B. REFLECTIONS ON SUFFERING AND DEATH AS REDEMPTIVE
1. Jesus as Suffering Servant
Jesus as Priest
Jesus in Agony
Jesus as Solitary Witness
Jesus Carrying His Cross
Jesus at Calvary
Jesus as Buried
2. Choosing Our Standard
3. Jesus as Humble and Compassionate
4. Considering Three Kinds of Humility
5. The Law of Conservation of Spiritual Energy
C. ACTIONS
1. Clean Up Campaigns
2. The Stations of the Suffering Earth
3. Community with the Suffering
SUMMARY: AN EARTH HEALER'S ELECTION: THE FUNDAMENTAL OPTION FOR THE POOR
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN MAY
A. EXPERIENCES OF NATURE'S POWER
1. Flowers: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
2. Detecting the Sounds of May
3. Chancing upon a Lively Vine
4. Hives of Honey: Liquid Gold
5. Radiant Light and Rainbows
B. REFLECTIONS ON THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF POWER
1. The Risen Christ: Power of the Risen Lord
2. Power Over Others and Types of Impoverishment
3. Confronting Power through Power
4. Power Within Powerlessnes
5. Spiritual Power Through Us as Other Christs
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmental Action: Growing a Garden
2. A Prayer for Restoring Damaged Lands
3. Resurrection Versus Creation-Centered Spirituality
SUMMARY: BROADENING THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN JUNE
A. EXPERIENCES OF CONFRONTING THIS WORLD
1. Cliffs Presenting Challenges
2. Rumbling Distant Thunder
3. A Priceless Drink of Cool Water
4. The Scent of New‑Mown Hay
5. Being in Contact with the Rocks
B. REFLECTIONS ON EXALTING THE LOWLY
1. The Ascension Mystery
2. The Lowly as Bearers of Good News
3. Appropriate Technology
4. Spiritual Environmental Resource Assessments
5. Temptations and the Exalted
C. ACTIONS
1. Plans and Daily Examinations
2. Act and Think Locally so You Can Act and Think Globally
3. Are Communications Appropriate Technology?
SUMMARY: TOWARDS BECOMING EARTHHEALERS
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN JULY
A. EXPERIENCES IN HUMAN GIFTS
1. Concentrate on Fishing
2. Secrets of the Gurgling Creek
3. Enjoying the Roadside Wildflowers
4. Taste of Home-Grown Fruit
5. Creature Teacher
B. REFLECTIONS ON IMITATING CHRIST
1. Jesus as Perfect Ecologist
Jesus as Teacher
Jesus as Healer
Jesus as Activist
2. Potential Earth Healers as Imperfect People
Denial
Excuse
Escape
Self-Empowerment
Burnout & Dropout
Fence-Sitting
Spinning Wheels
Cynicism
Affluent American
3. Earth as Teacher
C. ACTIONS
1. The Challenge of Cooperation with Others
2. Spiritual Direction
3. Relativity of Eco-spirituality
SUMMARY: UTILIZING RENEWABLE PERSONAL RESOURCES
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN AUGUST
A. EXPERIENCES OF VITALITY
1. Fascinating Insects
2. Engaging in Nature's Conversations
3. Visiting the Summer Kitchen
4. Delighted by Wild Plums
5. Appreciating the Foliage of Summer
B. REFLECTIONS ON THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
1. The Spirit as Source of Inspiration
2. The Trinity as God's Self-Communication
3. Enthusiasm: The God Within
4. The Triune God at Work in Us
5. Special Triune Character to All Activities
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmental Actions: Doing Wilderness Retreats
2. God's Grandeur
3. Discerning the Spirit
SUMMARY: PRESERVING AND ENHANCING OUR ENTHUSIASM
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN SEPTEMBER
A. EXPERIENCES THAT ARE COMMUNAL
1. The Joyful Valleys
2. Autumn's First signs: Flocking birds
3. The Smell of Silage
4. The Taste of "Joy‑foam" at Sorghum Time
5. The Virginia Reel
B. REFLECTIONS ON FORMING A COMMUNITY OF HARVESTERS
1. Cosmic Community
2. Pentecost, Church and Community
3. Liturgy, Community and Communion
Liturgy as Formal Prayer
Liturgy as Work of the People
Liturgy as Mutual Celebration
Liturgy as Nourishment for Spiritual Life
Consecrated HERE
Consecrated NOW
Consecrated WE
Sacrifice and Prophetic Witness
4. God, Community and Person
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmentalism and Churches
2. Prayer and Community Action
3. Communal Discerning the Spirit
SUMMARY: PREPARING FOR COMMUNITY ACTION
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN OCTOBER
A. EXPERIENCE OF SHARING
1. Gazing at the Harvest Moon
2. Sounds of Coming and Going
3. The Scent of Wet Autumn Leaves
4. Flowing Water Refreshes the Soul
5. Piled Leaves for Romping
B. REFLECTIONS ON MOVIG TO FORGIVENESS
1. Forgiveness: Total or Partial
2. Sacraments of Life
3. Radical Sharing With Others
4. Subjectivity and Deeper Mystery
C. ACTIONS
1. Forgive Polluters?
2. A Green "Our Father"
3. Discerning Correct Communal Decisions (Part II)
SUMMARY: PROPER COMMUNAL ACTIONS
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN NOVEMBER
A. EXPERIENCE OF THE NEW CREATION
1. Autumn Landscape and Memories
2. The Haunting Bay of the Coon Hounds
3. Apples Stored in the Root Cellar
4. Assembling at Thanksgiving
5. Cosmic Hymn of Praise
B. REFLECTIONS ON PREPARING OUR EARTH
1. Establishing our Home
2. All have a Right to Work
3. Visions and Realistic Dreams
4. A New Creation: A New Heaven and New Earth
5. Other Creatures
C. ACTIONS
1. Environmental Actions: Recycling
2. Establishing a Consecrated Home
3. Added Content to Our Thanksgiving
SUMMARY: NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
ECO-SPIRITUALITY IN DECEMBER
A. EXPERIENCE OF LIFE EVERLASTING
1. Glistening Razor Fence at Manchester Prison
2. Christmas‑Caroling
3. The Humble Christmas Cedar Tree
4. Providing Christmas Treats
5. A Time for Everything
B. REFLECTIONS ON ANTICIPATING THE EVERLASTING LIFE
1. A Third Level of Growth: Seeing God in All Things
2. Catalysts of Change
3. Consecrated HERE: Promise or Peril
4. Consecrated for Healing: HERE, NOW and WE
5. Our Journey in Faith
C. ACTIONS
1. Examples of Stewardship
2. Final Prayer
3. Attaining Love of God
SUMMARY: EARTHHEALING IS TRINITARIAN
APPENDIX
