A Prayer and a Song

January 11, 2017

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote a powerful letter to everyone everywhere, called Laudato Si. At the end of the letter, he included two beautiful prayers, one of which I adapted as a song for use in faith communities. Here’s a simple recording, with my daughter Jodi singing it. If you’d like to find more songs by me and others who believe faith communities need to sing about matters of justice and compassion, be sure to check out the Convergence Music Project.

Here’s the song –

And here are the lyrics that you can use as a prayer:

Laudato Si (Lyrics adapted from Pope Francis’ prayer by Brian McLaren)

You are present through the universe

And in the smallest and most fragile creature.

You embrace with tenderness

All things that exist.

Fill us with the power of your love …

Help us to conserve beauty and life.

Help us produce beauty and not filth.

Teach us to discover

The worth of each creation

And be filled with awe and contemplation.

Fill us with your peace that we may live

As brothers and as sisters, harming no one.

Empower us to rescue

The abandoned and forgotten,

Precious in your eyes, God of the poor.

Touch those whose hearts only look for gain,

Careless of the poor and of our planet.

Teach us to discover

How deeply we’re united

As we journey towards your light together.

Thank you for your presence every day.

Give us courage in our daily struggle.

May we work for justice.

May we work for love.

May we all be instruments of peace.

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And here are the chords:

E A9 E

You are present through the universe

E A9 E

And in the smallest and most fragile creature.

B A9

You embrace with tenderness

B A9

All things that exist.

B A9 B E

Fill us with the power of your love …