Qui fideliter cuncta faciebant.
Summary: Due to "unruly growth", many cities have become inefficient, polluted, ugly, and congested (§ 44). Where nature does exist in these cities, it is often inaccessible to the poor (§ 45). Ecology must "incorporate the history, culture and architecture of each place" to create a "habitable city" (§ 143). In mega-cities, overcrowding spawns violence … Continue reading Laudato Si’: Cities Must Have an Integral Ecology
Tradistae marks the change of each season by recognizing the traditional Embertides, a penitential devotion which dates back to the Church Fathers. Here are our prayers and readings for each Embertide: Spring (Lent) Embertide (after Ash Wednesday)Summer (Whitsun) Embertide (after Pentecost Sunday)Fall (Michaelmas) Embertide (after Holy Cross Day)Winter (Advent) Embertide (after the Feast of Saint … Continue reading The Ecological Embertides
The following is an excerpt from a homily “On the Earthquake” by Saint John Chrysostom, translated by Bryson Sewell. It likely refers to an earthquake which hit Constantinople, where Chrysostom was Bishop, in 398 A.D. The entire sermon can be found here. Chrysostom is a Doctor of the Church known for his preaching and his … Continue reading Saint John Chrysostom, Sermon after an Earthquake
The following is an excerpt of the sermon titled “God threatens to chastise in order to deliver us from chastisement” by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. This is the first sermon of a series which discusses divine chastisement. You can find the full set of sermons here. Liguori was a Bishop in Italy during the 18th century. … Continue reading Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Sermon on Divine Chastisement
Note: The following is an excerpt of the homily "In Times of Famine and Drought" by Saint Basil the Great. You can read the complete sermon here. We strongly encourage you to purchase the collection of St. Basil's homilies titled On Social Justice from SVS Press (link). Basil was a 4th century Bishop of Caesarea. … Continue reading St. Basil on Famine: ‘The multitude of our sins has changed the seasons’
The following prayer was offered by Pope Francis at the conclusion of his apostolic exhortation, "Querida Amazonia". The Holy Father warns us that "the equilibrium of our planet also depends on the health of the Amazon region... The cry of the Amazon region reaches everyone" (§ 48). Friends of Tradistae are asked to join this … Continue reading Prayer to Our Lady of the Amazon
SPIRITUAL READINGS: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Sermon on Divine Chastisement Saint Basil the Great, Sermon in Time of Famine Saint John Chrysostom, Sermon after an Earthquake PRAYERS: Canticle of the Three Youths (Daniel 3:57-88, also available in this PDF with commentary from St. John Paul II)The Sorrowful Mysteries of the RosaryPrayer to Our Lady of the … Continue reading Fall Embertide
SPIRITUAL READINGS: Laudato Si' excerpts on Integral Ecology and the Common Good Laudato Si' excerpts on Global Inequality and the Technocratic Paradigm Laudato Si' excerpts on Biblical Wisdom and Ecological Spirituality PRAYERS: Psalm 104 The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary Prayer in Union with Creation (from Laudato Si’)
SPIRITUAL READINGS: The Book of Genesis, Chapter 1: The first account of creation. The seven days. The Book of Genesis, Chapter 2: The second account of creation. The Garden of Eden. Sirach 42:15 - 43:35: A contemplation concerning the works of God in nature. The Catechism on Creation: Excerpts on the visible world and on … Continue reading Spring Embertide
Two excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, respectively on the visible world and on respect for the integrity of creation. THE VISIBLE WORLD 337 God himself created the visible world in all its richness, diversity and order. Scripture presents the work of the Creator symbolically as a succession of six days of divine … Continue reading The Catechism on Creation