Keywords
ecological crisis
stewardship
Laudato Si’
Pope Francis
How to Cite
Number of views: 1755
Number of downloads: 841
Abstract
Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on care for our common home, invites humanity to cultivate “ecological virtues” in order to become more responsible stewards of our imperilled common home. According to the Pope, the formation of healthy habitus for the stewardship of Earth can be achieved only through the cultivation of appropriate ecological virtues. It may be recalled that there is a growing awareness of the importance of the role of ecological virtues in environmental ethics today. In this paper we shall reflect on seven ecological virtues: praise, gratitude, care, justice, work, sobriety, and humility. They do not receive a separate treatment in Laudato Si’, but are mentioned throughout the encyclical. They are like signposts that indicate the road that we need to travel in caring for our common planetary home.
References
Abraham, K. C. 1994. Global Warming: Implications for South Asia and the Role of Churches. Bangalore: South Asian Theological Research Institute.
Berry, T. 2011. “The Emerging Ecozoic Period.” In Laszlo, E. & A. Combs (eds.) Dreamer of the Earth: The Spiritual Ecology of the Father of Environmentalism (pp. 9–15). Rochester, VT – Toronto, CA: Inner Traditions.
Brown, E. 2006. Our Father’s World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation. South Hadley, MA: Doorlight Publications.
Bookless, D. 2008. Planet Wise: Dare to Care for God’s World. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press.
Bouyer, L. 1956. Life and Liturgy. London: Sheed and Ward.
Bredin, M. 2008. “God the Carer: Revelation and the Environment.” Biblical Theology Bulletin, Vol. 38(2): 76–86.
Caritas Internationalis. 2009. Climate Justice: Seeking a Global Ethic. Vatican City: Caritas Internationalis Press.
Cuomo, Ch. J. 2011. “Climate Change, Vulnerability, and Responsibility.” Hypatia, Vol. 26: 690–714.
Bartholomew I. 2009a. “Message for September 1, 1992.” In Chryssavgis, J. (ed.) Cosmic Grace Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew (pp. 38–40). Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.
Bartholomew I. 2009b. “Message for September 1, 1994” Chryssavgis, J. (ed.) Cosmic Grace Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew (pp. 42–45). Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.
Bartholomew I. 2009c. “Greeting on Arrival at Novorossisk for the Second International Symposium, September 22, 1997.” Chryssavgis, J. (ed.) Cosmic Grace Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew (pp. 168–169). Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.
Bartholomew I. 2009d. “Toast during the Banquet in Constanza, Second International Symposium, September 26, 1997.” Chryssavgis, J. (ed.) Cosmic Grace Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew (pp. 179–180). Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.
Bartholomew I. 2009e. “Address During the Environmental Symposium in Santa Barbara, November 8, 1997.” In Chryssavgis, J. (ed.) Cosmic Grace Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew (pp. 186–191). Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.
Gallaher, B. 2015. “Common Themes for Our Common Home.” The Tablet 4 July.
Gilligan, C. 1982. In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Woman’s Development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Gorge, H. et al. 2015. “What Do We Really Need? Questioning Consumption through Sufficiency.” Journal of Macromarketing, Vol. 35: 11–22.
Henson, R. 2006. The Rough Guide to Climate Change. London: Rough Guides Ltd.
Hulme, M. 2014. “Climate Change and Virtue: An Apologetic.” Humanities, Vol. 3(3): 299–312.
Kureethadam, J. I. 2014. Creation in Crisis: Science, Ethics, Theology. New York: Orbis Books.
Leontius of Byzantium. 1865. "Apologetic Sermon II on the Holy Icons." In Migne, J. (ed.) Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 93. Paris: Oxford University Press.
McGrath, A. 2002. The Reenchantment of Nature: The Denial of Religion and the Ecological Crisis. New York – London: Doubleday.
National Conference of the Bishops of Brazil. 1992. A Igreja e a Questão Ecológica.
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. 2006. State¬ment on Environmental Issues.
Northcott, M. S. 2007. A Moral Climate: The Ethics of Global Warming. London: D.L.T. – Christian Aid.
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. 2004. Compendi¬um of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope Paul VI. 1967. Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio. 26 March. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope Paul VI. 1976. Message for the 1977 World Day of Peace. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope John Paul II. 1990. Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation. Message for the World Day of Peace. 1 January. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope Benedict XVI. 2009. Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate. 29 June. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope Benedict XVI. 2010. If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation. Message for the 2010 World Day of Peace. 1 January. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Pope Francis. 2015a. Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. 24 May. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Pope Francis. 2015b. Presentation of the Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia. 21 December. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Portuguese Bishops’ Conference. 2003. Pastoral Letter Re¬sponsabilidade Solidária pelo Bem Comum.
Sandler, R. 2005. “Introduction: Environmental Virtue Ethics.” In Sandler, R., Ph. Cafaro (eds.) Environmental Virtues Ethics (pp. 1–14). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Schaeffer, F. A. 1970. Pollution and the Death of Man: The Christian View of Ecology. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
Srinivasan, U. Th. et al. 2008. “The Debt of Nations and the Distribution of Ecological Impacts from Human Activities.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 105: 1768-1773.
Sweeney, J. M. 2015. “A Kinship of Harmony.” The Tablet 20 June: 4.
Sze, Julie & J. K. London. 2008. “Environmental Justice at the Crossroads.” Sociology Compass, Vol. 2: 1331–1354.
Thomas of Celano. 1999. “The Life of Saint Francis.” In Thomas of Celano (ed.) Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Vol. 1. New York – London – Manila.
Thomas of Celano. 2000. “The Major Legend of Saint Francis.” In Thomas of Celano (ed.) Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Vol. 2. New York – London – Manila.
Williams, R. 2009. “The Ark and the Covenant.” The Tablet 24 October: 10.
Williams R. 2015. “Embracing Our Limits: The Lessons of Laudato Si’.” Commonweal 9 October: 13–15.
Zizioulas, J. 1989. “Preserving God’s Creation.” King’s Theological Review, Vol. 12: 1–5.