Joseph in the lane leading to the MC sisters mens’ shelter Yesterday I read most of Pope Francis’ new encyclical ‘Laudato Si’. I won’t comment until finishing the document, but so far I find it most refreshing. Like Pope Benedict, Pope Francis is concerned with the use of our natural resources but with the scandalous waste practiced by the wealthier nations. My good father taught all of his children to conserve—to turn off water and light and heat when not using them. I remember being scandalized that the landlord of my first college apartment (who lived upstairs) left the parking lot floodlights burning all day. A society that leaves lights on in the blazing sunlight is headed for disaster, I thought. How much effort does it take to flick off the switch in the morning? Since the 1980s we’ve gone from bad to worse in our wasteful habits. I still get slightly depressed when I see streetlights and parking lot lights left on all day—I want to shimmy up the light pole and switch them off.
MC sisters in Trinidad rejoice after their retreat with a visit from Pope Francis But here I am with the Missionaries of Charity, whose carbon footprints are admirably miniscule. In the blazing heat of Trinidad last week, I sweated it out with the rest of them in a building without air-conditioning. They have plenty of money to install it, but will not out of humility and solidarity with the poor. I stripped down to shorts and a T-shirt while in my room, but the sisters never take off their habits throughout the day. They practice an asceticism that most are not called to, but which points out that its OK to sweat a little. Most of the time, in most of the country, we don’t need air conditioning. We can open a window, and we can sweat a little. Sweating in reasonable quantities is good for the body and good for the soul. It’s good to have some little bracing discomfort to offer up to heaven, especially for those who have no choice but to suffer.
MC sisters in Nairobi at adoration Last night, here in Nairobi, the electricity went out, as it does about once a week. The chapel was growing darker, and when it came time for vespers, the sisters simply got up to open all the windows and light a few candles. They didn’t switch on a diesel generator that would spew noise and filth into the air. Meanwhile, the telecommunications facility across the field did switch on their generator, enveloping the house with noise and smoke. I wonder how the owners of the wireless network who own that generator (probably not Kenyans) were spending that hot night.
Let’s learn from our dearest consecrated religious women! Let’s learn again from our beloved nuns, as we did in elementary school! They live most of their lives on fresh air and the love of God. They don’t need to read Pope Francis’ encyclical (but I know they will), because they live it. I hope the Pope’s widely-acclaimed encyclical will be as widely taken to heart, so that we can share some of the joy of the pure souls who have been living it.
Let’s learn from our dearest consecrated religious women! Let’s learn again from our beloved nuns, as we did in elementary school! They live most of their lives on fresh air and the love of God. They don’t need to read Pope Francis’ encyclical (but I know they will), because they live it. I hope the Pope’s widely-acclaimed encyclical will be as widely taken to heart, so that we can share some of the joy of the pure souls who have been living it.
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