St Francis Novena Day 5: Fire

Intention

Today we pray that the Holy Spirit may burn within us, moving us to make a change with our brothers and sisters for a better world.

Canticle of the Sun

“We praise you, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom you light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust and strong.”

Reflection

We know the power of fire. It can light up the darkness, purify and warm. But it can also be destructive. Intense and prolonged periods of drought caused by the climate crisis mean that catastrophic fires are on the increase. Paula is an indigenous firefighter, living in the Brazilian Amazon, who volunteers to prevent fires from getting out of control. She does this by monitoring hot spots, managing the land and putting out fires before they spread. She also trains communities to ensure that small fires, used by farmers to clear their land, are managed safely.

We pray today that the flames of our desire to protect the earth and the dignity of all our brothers and sisters may never burn out.

Prayer

Creator God,
your flames blaze yet leave us whole,
but our fires destroy at reckless speed;
great forests fall beneath our feet.
Forgive us for this death and destruction.

Burn in our hearts as a desire to make change, Lord,
and lead us to follow the example of St Francis,
as we seek to build a better world
and sing a song of praise for all creation.

St Francis, pray for us.

Action

Pray today that the fire of hope may be lit within you, leading to a desire for change.

Pray with us