The launching of the Prayer Network for the Care of Creation and the Global Day of Action for Our Common Home inspired us to hold the Laudato Si’ Dialogue “Laudato Si’: Franciscan Contemplative Life” on Friday, May 21, as part of Laudato Si’ Week.
It was a fraternal dialogue organized by the General Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Order of Friars Minor of Colombia. It was moderated by Friar Santiago Gonzalez OFM, and involved three monasteries of contemplative life.
Each community had the opportunity to share their history, lifestyle and how they apply Laudato Si’ in their daily lives. They also shed light on the socio-environmental crisis we are going through, shared the strategies they use for self-sustainability and how they are facing these pandemic times.
Contemplative life is a very active life that is committed nowadays to the care of the common home. This was demonstrated, in the first instance by the Poor Clare Sisters of San Damiano Monastery in Planes de Renderos, El Salvador.
The nuns, in a path of “constant discernment”, included natural medicine among their activities and want this to be something accessible to all. They joyfully joined the Prayer Network for the Care of Creation, “a project of life and communion that will result in transformation”.
Meanwhile, the Franciscan Conceptionist Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Monastery of Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia, had a moment to share their story and lifestyle. Participating in the network is ” something very gratifying and supportive” for them.
In Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, the Poor Clare Capuchin Sisters of the Jesus of Nazareth Monastery live their spirituality very close to Mother Earth, they use renewable energies and try to “break the schemes that the world offers”, they mentioned.
Likewise, they usually invite the laity of the community to have a contemplative lifestyle, but without neglecting action, because “if we who have faith do nothing, then who will?