Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles

Laudato Si' Action Platform Goal

Adopting a sustainable lifestyle isn’t about losing but gaining, by welcoming something better. That something is connection—with the natural world, the human family, even our interior selves. Still, it’s so easy to succumb to the idea that things are the gateway to happiness.

Why is that? Do we accumulate to fill a void of dissatisfaction? Or maybe it’s our way of fabricating beauty, order, security and status.

In developed countries, we amass and discard resources and goods carelessly, often out of habit or to appease our desire for comfort and convenience. Rarely do we consider the toll that extraction of resources from the earth, production and use of dangerous chemicals, or the disposal of non-biodegradable waste have on our land, water and air, other living organisms and ourselves.

“Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat [global] warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.”

Laudato Si'  23

Pursuing a Common Good

Being mindful about how we live can reveal new practices that sustain a more equitable and healthy future for our planet. It can also induce a mindset of sufficiency—the knowledge that what we have is enough—and hospitality—a generosity for the common good.

Key areas to address include use of natural resources, energy and single-use plastics, and food consumption and sourcing. Just making a few changes can simplify our lives and influence broader cultural and institutional changes, especially in business operations and production.

“The simplicity of our lives and our concern for the poor give witness ... to our hopes for a just world.

—Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Constitutions


Learn.   Pray.   Discern.

Sisters of the Holy Cross invites you to continue the journey with us as we respond to sustainable lifestyles and lean into what we can each do to better care for our common home. 

You can download a copy of Laudato Si'  for free or purchase a copy from your favorite bookseller. 

Suggested readings from Laudato Si':

Take the time to read the paragraphs listed below from Laudato Si' (on care for our common home). These readings are an opportunity for you to connect with your own experiences and reflect on where you are being called to act.

  • paragraph 22: The Throwaway Culture
  • paragraphs 23-26: Climate as a Common God
  • paragraph 50: Population Growth vs. Extreme and Selective Consumerism
  • paragraphs 51-52: Ecological Debt and Differentiated Responsibilities
  • paragraphs 156-162: The Principle of the Common Good

Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles Workshop

Sisters of the Holy Cross Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles Workshop 2022

Ask Yourself 

In what ways might your lifestyle contribute to the throwaway culture?

Do we consider the protection of the natural world to be an essential aspect of what it means to be a person of good character?

 What steps can you take to counteract the throwaway culture and influence the lowering of ecological debt?

A Holy Cross Prayer

It is important to reflect on how our actions affect the planet as we look for strength and guidance to restore balance and address our climate crisis.

Prayer for Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles

O God, invite us to live simply and in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the globe. 

As we strive to care for our common home, inspire us to make choices that recognize our impact on the environment and those impacted the most by environmental degradation — the poor and vulnerable. 

Grant us the grace to adopt sustainable lifestyles by turning away from selfish consumption of goods and resources, to recognize the sacredness of your creatures, and to grow in our respect for all your creation. 

Amen.

Continue this Journey with Us

Consider inviting others by sharing these resources, leading group discussions, or share on social media.

We invite you enter your own commitment as an individual, a family or a community, and to join us in this seven-year mission on care of our common home. To stay up to date and receive additional resources, please sign up below.

Together, we can journey toward a better future.

Our time is now.