How to Live in a World That Is Dying

The ancient traditions for prayer and contemplation have been passed from generation to generation and are still alive today in spite of our having to learn How to Live in a World That Is Dying. Recitations of love and reflection, alone or in a group are powerful, they nurture the soul, fuel the heart, and uplift the spirit. Communal prayer focuses a great deal on human needs, the sick, isolated, aged, imprisoned, and in peril. It may be prudent to add our devotion and respect for God’s plan revealed on Earth.

Our contemporary society does not allow us time to pause long enough to appreciate our delicate, at times imperceptible relationship to the natural order that surrounds us. A powerful sense of grace is revealed through sacramental petition and is dependent on the attitude of the persons using it. The Earth is listening, she sees our human dilemma and she is calling us to pay attention. Mary Jane Miller has given words for us to cry out and reflect, in unison with gratitude, repentance, compassion, and guidance for the Earth’s preservation.

How to Live in a World That Is Dying is a prayer book to address Mother Earth and highlight our being and our abundant life energy coursing through all of Creation. Humanity can and does experience resonant love and feels the rapture of being alive. Humanity has always offered up prayers for those in need. How do we live in a dying world? There is much to be done and even more to readjust.

The prayer book is divided into four sections focused on: Gratitude, Repentance, Compassion, and Guidance. The sections can be read individually or several at a time. There is no prescribed order. Each section begins with a scripture reference or quote for meditation, followed by an individual prayer, then a collective prayer, and finally concludes with a response when Earth Speaks.

God knows and Creation knows the magnificent, mysterious love that binds all life together. Let us enliven our hearts and minds with gratitude for Earth and Care for Creation. The Joyful Mysteries, Sorrowful Mysteries, Luminous Mysteries, and Glorious Mysteries, are all Meditations for Humanity. Let us celebrate and enjoy what God handed into our possession, both physically and spiritually. The wisdom traditions throughout the world use the divine mother and the mystery of motherhood to unify their communities. One minute of reflection on our planet today will benefit the generations to come.

Humanity has always recited prayers for the sick, those in need, the broken, and the homeless. Our devotions are direct petitions to God for humankind. From generation to generation, we have prayed for brother and sister, wives and children, parents, and neighbors, but left God to care for the environment. There is a divine plan revealed through humanity, but who is taking care of Earth? How to Live in a World That Is Dying is mixed in with traditional catholic prayers used for centuries. This new version of an ancient prayer form invites us to remember our relationship to Mary and Earth. They are our intercessors who give wisdom and grace a human voice through prayer and supplication. We beseech the Creator’s continued intercession for Earth for our benefit.