Notes in CFE 5B – CICM Mission in Action: Environment Protection and Management

Chapter 4
ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUALITY

Lesson 2
APPRECIATION OF BIODIVERSITY

CONTEXT
The song “Bahay Kubo” is a symbol of biodiversity. This song is closer to home and we
can identify meaningfully.
Biodiversity, also called biological diversity, is the variety of life found in a place
on Earth or, often, the total variety of life on Earth. The Philippines is extremely valuable to
global biodiversity because of its 52,177 described flora and fauna species, around half of
which is endemic or found only in the Philippines.
Some of the important reasons for the preservation of all forms of life are:
1. Biodiversity has utility value. People’s food depends on plants and animals. Medical
drugs come from plants.
2. Biodiversity has “hidden wealth”. There is still so much to be discovered from the planet’s
biological richness and there is so much potential for meeting people’s needs.
3. Biodiversity provides awareness of life exuberance. Spiritual enrichment comes with the
awareness of the exuberance of life. All forms of life are reflection of God’s omnipotence
and manifestation of God’s goodness. These are treasures that make the world more
beautiful and human existence more satisfying and meaningful.

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD: All Creation Summoned to Praise (Psalm 148)

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the

heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were

created.
6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be

passed.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his

glory is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the

people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

In the essay entitled, ‘Biblical Views of Nature: Foundations for an Environmental
Ethic’, Bunge writes:
The Book of Psalms, specifically Psalms 8, 104, and 148, reaffirm the goodness
of creation and provide additional insights into our relation to nature. The
Psalms indicate that God is active in nature and intimately involved in every
aspect of the natural order. Furthermore, the Psalms suggest that all creatures,
not merely human beings, are witnesses to the glory of God. The language of
Psalm 148 suggests that “it is only as all creatures of God join together in the
chorus of praise that the elements of the natural order or human beings witness
to God as they ought.”

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Notes in CFE 5B – CICM Mission in Action: Environment Protection and Management
CHURCH TEACHING
Chapter 6 – Ecological Education and Spirituality of Laudato Si’ highlights the Trinity
and the Relationship between Creatures as one of its topics. Each of the three divine Persons
has a relation with the created world. The whole of creation has a Trinitarian imprint and
reflection. The created world is an endless work of relations. Each human person reaches its
fulfillment by entering into communion with God, other people and creation. We ought then
to develop a spirituality of global solidarity that flows from the Trinity. (#s 238-240)
Indeed, all forms of life are important. This is the second of the seven environmental
principles. Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. Since such occupational or
functional position, otherwise known as niche, cannot be simultaneously occupied by more
than one species, it is apparent that all living things must be considered as invaluable in the
maintenance of homeostasis in the ecosystem.
It is easy to appreciate the beautiful butterflies, especially knowing their important
role in pollination. The giant beasts – the elephant, the whale, the alligator – are objects of
awe and the products they yield – respectively, ivory, oil, leather – are highly prized.
Yet, when it comes to unlovely, wriggly, and troublesome creatures, this principle is
usually overlooked. It has been customary for many to step on any wriggling creature like
the earthworm without even considering why God made them in the first place. People also
react adversely to the presence of snakes. At home, spiders are looked at with disdain.
Awareness of the snakes’ role in limiting the rat population and of the spiders’ role in
checking the population of mosquitoes and flies may, however, change this attitude.
Furthermore, everything is connected to everything else. This is the third of the seven
environmental principles. This principle is best exemplified by the concept of the ecosystem.
In an ecosystem, all the basic components interact with each other to ensure that the system
is perpetuated. Any outside interference may result in an imbalance and deterioration of the
system.
This principle may be discussed in a local, regional, or global perspective.
Deforestation in the mountains may affect the lowlands through floods, drought, and
erosion. The Chernobyl accident in 1986 affected a lot of countries through transfer of
radioactive substances by natural agents such as wind and water, as well as human activities
like export of contaminated food.
Chapter 6 of Laudato Si’ also discusses ecological conversion profoundly. A faith-
rooted ecological spirituality moves us to nurture a passion for the care of the world. There
is a need for a deep “ecological conversion” so that we can live out our vocation to be
custodians of God’s creation. Personal conversion includes a healthy relationship with
creation. Such conversion achieves “reconciliation with creation” so that there should be a
synergy between personal and communitarian conversions. A deep ecological conversion
entails acknowledging the world as a gift from the Father, feeling as part of a universal
communion and developing our creativity and enthusiasm. We are duty-bound to recognize
and respect the order inscribed by God in the world. (#s 216-221)
By virtue of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations proclaimed
May 22 as International Day of Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness
of biodiversity issues.
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all
creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of
Creation, we join our brothers and sisters in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for
our common home. The season starts 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, and
ends 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by
many Christian denominations.
Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and the World Council
of Churches, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual
calendar. Pope Francis made the Roman Catholic Church’s warm welcoming of the season
official in 2015. Just months after publishing his encyclical Laudato Si’, he formally added the
World Day of Prayer for Creation to the Catholic calendar as an annual day of prayer. Last
2019, he officially invited Catholics to celebrate the full season.
Laudato Si’ Week began as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’
world-changing papal encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home.” The
next Laudato Si’ Week, which does not take place every year, occurred in 2020. The weeklong
event marked the fifth anniversary of the encyclical.

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Notes in CFE 5B – CICM Mission in Action: Environment Protection and Management
Laudato Si’ Week 2021, to be held May 16-25, will be the crowning event of the Special
Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year, and a celebration of the great progress the whole Church has
made on its journey to ecological conversion. It will also be a time to reflect on what the
COVID-19 pandemic has taught us and prepare for the future with hope. The theme for
Laudato Si’ Week 2021 is, “for we know that things can change”(#13).

MISSIONARY RESPONSE
Chapter 6 of Laudato Si’ also includes the following topics related to Ecological
Conversion and Ecological Spirituality:
1. Joy and Peace – Christian spirituality enjoins us to learn or relearn a prophetic and
contemplative lifestyle. Life is beautiful when lived in contact with nature, people and
God. We ought to rediscover essential virtues and values, dare to speak of the integrity
of human life, make room for God, develop interior peace and care for nature and
rediscover God’s presence in creation and us. Jesus Christ is our model in living a sober
and peace-filled life. (#s 222-227)
2. Civic and Political Love – Care for nature is essentially linked to the capacity to live with
others. Fraternal love can only be gratuitous. Realizing that we need one another, we
should value goodness and honesty. Absence of these values leads to disastrous
consequences. We follow the example of Saint Therese of Lisieux in the little way of love.
We can construct a “civilization of love” through social love, which can halt
environmental degradation and promote a “culture of care”. All of us, each in one’s own
way, can promote the common good and defend the environment. (#s 228-232)
3. Sacramental Signs and the Celebration of Rest – We are invited to find God in His
creatures and discover the intimate union that binds God and all beings. We can find God
in the beauty of nature like Saint John of the Cross and other mystics. The Sacraments are
means by when created things become instruments of supernatural life. The Eucharist is
the sublimation of the created world and the vital center of the universe. In the Eucharist,
the material world returns to God in joyful adoration so that the Eucharist motivates us
to care for the environment. Sunday is the day of healing relationships since it is the first
day of the new creation, the first fruits of which is the Risen Christ. The Sunday rest is a
different way of being active and moves us to care for nature and the poor. (#s 233-237)
Ponder/reflect on ONE topic that strikes you the most. Ponder/reflect also on what
you are being called to do by this topic and its content or summary in protecting the
environment and caring for creation. Think of at least one CONCRETE, DOABLE,
PRACTICAL and REALISTIC action.

References:
Britannica. (n.d.). Biodiversity | Definition and Facts.
https://www.britannica.com/science/biodiversity
Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines. (2018). JEEPGY Manual. Catholic
Educational Association of the Philippines.
Francis. (2015, May 24). Laudato ’Si: Encyclical Letter on the Care for our Common Home.
vatican.va.
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
Laudato Si’ Week.org. (n.d.). About Laudato Si’ Week – Laudato Si’ Week.
https://laudatosiweek.org/what-is-laudato-si-week/
_______________. (n.d.). Laudato Si’ Week. https://laudatosiweek.org
Season of Creation.org. (n.d.). About – Season of Creation.
https://seasonofcreation.org/about/

Prepared by:
MICHAEL ANGELO F. EMPIZO
Saint Louis College, City of San Fernando, La Union
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
May 03, 2021

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