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This week we tackle the question: Why does rural matter?, Mercy and Earth Day and provide the April Blessing--plus links and videos. Visit our website for more.
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Words of Wisdom
"Care must be taken by people in all the world's nations
To sow the seeds of tomorrow for future generations.
Seeds of stewardship sown by following God's commands
Making human efforts an extension of God's hands.
Consider as you sow, you shall reap."
--Edward Hays, Prayers for the Domestic Church
(Prayer featured in the CRL Rural Life Celebration Guide. Read and download it here.)
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Why Rural Matters
CRL Magazine, Winter 2017
The new issue of the CRL magazine tackles the question: Why does rural matter? In this issue, we highlight the struggles, inspirations, purpose and meaning behind living the rural life. Jonathan Elliot talks about he and his wife's move from urban to rural in his story:
Intentionally Rural
"The attraction of rural life and work was, and continues to be, twofold. First, it puts us immediately in contact with creation. The daily work of feeding chickens, collecting eggs, or managing pasture is a daily interaction with an order not of our own making. It draws me out of myself, out of my own idea of what should be, and to the world that actually is. Living around and working with chickens (and turkeys, pigs, and cattle) has helped me to appreciate what it means to be a human being, a particular kind of living being, a rational animal. Seeing the hens peck and pick on the hen at the bottom of their social order can make them seem rather cruel. Reflecting on this however, reminds me that humans can be far crueler than hens because our cruelty comes from our free will and not from instinct. At the same time, though, it is our free will which allows us to love, and the ability to love is what really makes us human. By simply being themselves, the chickens can help reveal us to ourselves."
Read more and see more stories like this here. Click here to become a member and receive regular issues of CRL magazine.
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Earth Day 2017
Mercy on Our Common Home
Earth Day is almost here. It is an important day to celebrate the earth that God gave us, reflect upon the right relationship between us and its resources, and stand up for and promote good stewardship.
In his message Have Mercy on our Common Home, Pope Francis named caring for our common home as a new act of mercy, along with feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, and the other corporal and spiritual acts of mercy.
Earth Day, April 22, and Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23, occur on the same weekend. This is the perfect time to highlight this new act of mercy as an integral part of Christian life.
Mercy2Earth is a global campaign to encourage Catholics to reflect on Pope Francis' important "Show Mercy to our Common Home" message and put it into action. Visit the Mercy2Earth website here to learn more about how you and your community can participate.
Read the Pope's message, Have Mercy on our Common Home, here. Watch the video below to learn more about this issue.
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April Blessing
Blessing of Seeds and Rain
It is not far-fetched to say that our health, our very lives, depend on the sprouting of seeds. The planting of seeds and nurturing through harvest, we receive God's choicest blessings when we break from our labors and enjoy a simple meal. Saving some of the new seeds allows us to continue this miraculous cycle of nature.
Besides planting in the good earth, seeds cannot grow without fresh water. The cycle of rain blesses us, and water stored in the ground is our true treasure. Let us seek God's guidance in finding ways to better utilize seeds and water so that farming can become more sustainable for all who find their vocation on the land.
Click
here to pray the Blessing of Seeds and Rain.
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Introducing...
Join Us in Welcoming New Staff
Please join us in welcoming two new staff members to the Catholic Rural Life Family!
Cassie Carter is our new bookkeeper. She has a wealth of experience in the field, and we are excited to utilize her expertise. Cassie and her husband, and three children live in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Morgan Smith is our new Communications Manager. She is looking forward to furthering the message of CRL to reach new members and fostering relationships with current members. She is interested in the stories of rural life. If you have something to share, please contact her at
Morgan@CatholicRuralLife.org.
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