I just came across this prayer by Basil the Great (c. 329-379), in the Encyclopedia of Prayer and Praise. This prayer sheds light on some of the theology in my painting, “Creation Groans.”
(Please see post below and my ArtPrize page: http://www.artprize.org/barbara-bjelland/2015/creation-groans for more on this.)
“O God. grant us a deeper sense of fellowship with all living things, our little brothers and sisters to whom in common with us you have given this earth as home. We recall with regret that in the past we have acted high-handedly and cruelly in exercising our domain over them. This, the voice of the earth which should have risen to you in song has turned into a groan of travail. May we realize that all these creatures also live for themselves and for you–not for us alone. They too love the goodness of life, as we do, and serve you better in their way than we do in ours. Amen.”
I also post this prayer, and my drawing of St. Francis, in honor of the Feast of St. Francis, which many churches in the United States celebrate on Oct. 4. Many animals are brought to church for a blessing on this day.
Please comment:
How do you see Creation groaning?
How do your “little brothers and sisters” bless your life?
(Text and images copyright 2015 Barbara Bjelland)
THE ART OF FAITH 