The Catholic Guide to Sustainable Living and Ancient Practices

Simplifying lives, loving deeply, honoring God's creation. This is sustainable living Catholic style. It is not simply recycling or eating organic. It is living with purpose, informed by faith and traditions that span centuries. For Catholics, it's about selecting a way of life that is a sign of love for God, compassion for others and respect for the planet.

Pastor Thom O’Leary reminds us often, that faith is not just a matter of sermons and prayer. It's how we live each aspect of life, from what we eat to how we care for creation. It's that daily faith that makes sustainability a calling, not just a trend.

Pastor Thom O'Leary

Living Simply with a Purpose

Catholic tradition has long promoted simplicity. Saint Francis of Assisi is a prime example. He gave away his riches to live simply and believed that all creation came from God. Nowadays, Catholics are reverting to that idea by minimizing waste, purchasing just what is necessary, and living with less.

Our responsibility to lovingly care for the Earth has been clearly stated by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si'. It's not a secondary matter. It's an extension of loving your neighbor. Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook likes to repeat, "Faith is practical," and a simple lifestyle is one way we practice that practical faith.

Ancient Practices Which Remain Relevant Today

There is something strong about good old Catholic traditions. Fasting, for instance, isn't solely about self-restraint. It makes us move at a slower pace, waste less, and think. A Sabbath rest, once a week, makes us rest and think about what is important. Simple habits such as cultivating food, neighborly sharing, or just walking rather than driving may be small, but collectively, they can carry a lot of impact. These are not simply green fads. They are tried and true methods of taking care of creation and practicing what we believe.

Faith in Action, One Step at a Time

Sustainability is not about perfection. It's about faithfulness. Every small decision is cumulative. Bring your own shopping bags. Turn off every unnecessary light. Buy local. All of these are things that can demonstrate the heart of a believer desiring to please God.

Pastor Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook encourages us to "live like Jesus is in the room." It's a powerful mindset that makes us understand that each moment of our day, even the small things, is important to God. The way we care for the planet is a part of how we worship.

A Life That Provides a Good Example

Others are aware of how we live. When we are respectful to creation and live out timeless wisdom with gladness, it makes a powerful statement. It affirms that faith is authentic, it's vibrant, and it has something to say to today's world.

Let's be the kind of people who live thoughtfully, who live faithfully. Let's make those decisions that please God, bless others, and guard what we've been entrusted.

Simple. Sacred. Real. These are the Catholic principles for living well and living with purpose.

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