Prayers

Prayers about Creation

Jesus often withdrew in nature to pray (Luke 6, 12) and we can follow his example. The biblical tradition even encourages to praise God with all creatures (Ps 148). Various prayers about creation are available:

praise, to recognize that God is the creator of heaven and earth;
thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth;
confession for having wasted, polluted, abused Creation;
petition, to receive more courage and wisdom;
intercession, to help our neighbor, to enlighten our decision-makers;
contemplation, to know the Creator by observing his work.

On this page, you will find a great variety of prayers to pray to God for the splendor of his Creation. We try to offer prayers from each of Christian traditions.

Longer prayers

Shorter prayers

Blessing of a Fruit Tree

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made nothing lacking in
His world, and created in it good creatures and good trees to give humanity pleasure.

Jewish blessing for when one sees a blossoming tree in spring

Blessing of Fields and Meadows

Blessed are you, Lord our God, maker of the universe and Father of all your people:
we praise you and give you glory for the love you show to us.
Bless these fields and meadows, and let them provide plentiful food for the animals
that feed here. Grant that the weather may be favorable, and our herds and flocks
healthy. Father, we place ourselves in your hands, and give you glory through
Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Book of Blessings (1981), Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Dance of creation

May God who established the dance of creation,
who marvelled at the lilies of the field,
who transforms chaos to order,
lead us to transform our lives and the Church
to reflect God’s glory in creation.

Andrew Warmback and Brian Wilinson, Christian Earthkeeping in South Africa.

Deep peace to you

Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you, for ever.

Gaelic Blessing

Environmental Sabbath

Gracious God, who made the covenant promise
with our ancestors, we gather here today a
rebellious people. We want to act out your
intentions for us, but we keep getting mixed
up by all the glitter of the world around us.
You tell us to honor creation, and we use other
people and animals and plant life only to meet
our wants. You offer daily bread to every living
creature, and we steal that bread from our
brothers and sisters in the name of our greed.
You promise us new life, and we shrink back
from it in fear. Heal us, God, lest we destroy
ourselves. We need your presence among us.
Amen.

U.N. Environmental Sabbath

For Agriculture

Almighty God, who hast blessed the earth
that it should be fruitful and bring forth
abundantly whatsoever is needful for the
life of man: Prosper, we beseech thee, the
work of our farmers, and grant such seasonable
weather that all may gather in the fruits of the
earth, and proclaim thy great goodness with
thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Church of Canada (1962)

For Knowledge of God’s Creation

Almighty and everlasting God, you made
the universe with all its marvelous order,
its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the
infinite complexity of living creatures:
Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of
your creation, we may come to know you
more truly, and more surely fulfill our role
in your eternal purpose; in the name of
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal Church (1983)

For the Conservation of Natural Resources

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over
things on earth, you made us fellow workers
in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence
so to use the resources of nature, that no
one may suffer from our abuse of them, and
that generations yet to come may continue
to praise you for your bounty; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal Church (1983)

God of All

Our God is the God of all, the God of
heaven and earth, of the sea and of the rivers;

The God of the sun and of the moon and of all the stars;

The God of the lofty mountains and of the lowly valleys.

He has Hid dwelling around heaven and earth,

and sea, and all that is in them.

St. Patrick

God of Creation, of Love, of Justice

Compassionate and loving God, you created
the world for us all to share, a world of
beauty and plenty. Create in us a desire to
live simply, so that our lives may reflect
your generosity.
Creator God, You gave us responsibility
for the earth, a world of riches and delight.
Create in us a desire to live sustainably,
so that those who follow after us may
enjoy the fruits of your creation.
God of peace and justice,
You give us the capacity to change,
to bring about a world that mirrors your
wisdom. Create in us a desire to act in
solidarity, so that the pillars of injustice
crumble and those now crushed are set free.
Amen.

Linda Jones / CAFOD

God of wisdom

God of wisdom, showing us your
love in the rising sun and waning tide,
you grace Earth with life in all its variety.
Every thing has meaning, is blessing;
every one is charged with care for
the smallest creature to the ocean’s depth.

Grant us wisdom
to know your ways of love and gentle kindness.
Give us the mind to learn what we do not know
but long to understand so that we may
honor and nurture all that makes us one with you.
Amen.

By Diane Lopez Hughes

Prayer for Creation

Eternal God, we thank you for the glory
of your creation, a mystery that surpasses
our knowledge. Eternal God, we thank you
for the earth and water, sun and wind,
creatures and peoples, cultures, nations.
Guide us as we gather to confess that we
have violated the gift of life given to us.
Strengthen us as we seek to affirm that
the earth and all therein is yours. Enable us
as we seek to recall your covenant and
make it our own.

World Council of Churches

Prayer for kindness to animals

Loving Father, we praise you and thank
you for making animals as part of your
wonderful creation. Help us and all
people to be kind to animals. Touch
the hearts of all with your love and
increase our respect for all your creation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
through whom you made all things
for your glory.
Amen.

A Book of Blessings (1981), Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Thanks for solar energy

Blessed are you, Lord our God, our
loving Father and creator of all things:
we praise you for creating the sun,
for giving us its light, heat, and energy,
and for bringing us life and growth.
Help us to use all the goods of creation
for your honor and for the benefit of others.
Teach us to use all our resources wisely,
and to take care of the world you have given us.
Blessed are you, heavenly Father, for ever. Amen.

A Book of Blessings (1981), Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Thanksgiving for the Beauty of the Earth

We give you thanks, most gracious God,
for the beauty of earth and sky and sea;
for the richness of mountains, plains, and
rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness
of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts,
and pray that we may safeguard them for our
posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow
in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation,
to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever.
Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal Church (1983)

When I open my eyes

When I open my eyes, my God, on all that You
have created I have heaven already in my hands.
Serenely I gather in my lap roses and lilies and all
green things while I praise your works. My own
works I ascribe entirely to you. Gladness springs
forth from sorrow, and joy brings happiness.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)