How Laudato si’
inspires Life at Sea
It has been nearly 11 years since Pope Francis wrote his famous encyclical, Laudato Si’. In this letter, he called not only believers but all human beings to start thinking differently about “Our Common Home”.
A major part of this encyclical relates to nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity. It reminds us that the master of the Earth is God, who entrusted this home to us. He did not give it to us to exploit, but to care for it, and to be present in a relationship with Him through it.
Finding God in Beauty
One of the well-known philosophical thrusts of the encyclical is beauty. Pope Francis presents a view of beauty that is deeply theological. The beauty of nature portrays God in His glory and calls us to respect His making. When we witness a sunset over the sea or feel the breeze of the wind, this beauty evokes in us admiration and a deep sense of thankfulness. Through this, we can sense Ignatian spirituality and Saint Ignatius’s call to “Find God in All Things”.
Inspired by this and as an Ignatian Center, we feel deeply called to respond. We cannot divide the care for ecology from the experience of sailing. When we sail, we witness the beauty of the sea, and that beauty brings us closer to the Creator.
Escaping the Noise: Finding Serene Harmony
However, modern life makes it hard to see this beauty. As Pope Francis wisely notes:.
“Inner peace is closely related to care for ecology and for the common good because, lived out authentically, it is reflected in a balanced lifestyle together with a capacity for wonder which takes us to a deeper understanding of life.” (Laudato Si’, 225)
Many people today feel a profound imbalance. We are driven to “frenetic activity,” constantly busy and in a hurry. The Pope warns that this internal chaos leads us to “ride rough-shod over everything around us,” including the environment.
This is where Life at Sea offers a different path and shows that inner peace and care for ecology are closely connected.An authentic life is reflected in a balanced lifestyle and a capacity for wonder.
By stepping onto a boat, we leave the distractions behind. We take the time to “recover a serene harmony with creation,” reflecting on our lifestyle and contemplating the Creator who surrounds us.
From Reflection to Action
Once we recover that inner peace, we are ready to act. Pope Francis invokes that the changes that make a difference are the little ones. Little by little, step by step, changes can happen:
- Workshops: We use our workshops to combat the “cult of appearances” and help participants find a deeper understanding of life and sustainability.
- Clean-ups: When we clean Nature Park Telašćica, we are not just removing trash; we are healing the “frenetic” damage done to our common home.
Let's put Faith into Action together!
By combining the spirituality of St. Ignatius with the ecological call of Pope Francis, we believe that sailing is not just an activity, it is a way to find the “serene harmony” that saves the beauty freely given to us – sea, forests and finally our souls.