by Joseph Nangle, OFM
Pax Christi USA 2023 Teacher of Peace
Among the incredible scientific breakthroughs we have witnessed throughout the 20th century and on into the 21st is humanity’s ability to view Planet Earth from outer space.
Never before have human beings experienced what our Common Home looks like from the vast expanses of Earth’s solar system. Formerly we could measure distances from Earth to sun, moon and other planets. We came to know for example that the Sun is some 93.5 million miles from us, that the farthest planet away from us, Neptune, is an astounding 2.5 billion miles away.
Still, these findings were more scientific data than lived experience. However, in mid-20th century human genius enabled us to leave Earth’s atmosphere, circle it in outer space and, incredibly, send persons to the moon and return them safely. As the first human being to set foot on that storied satellite, Neil Armstrong, famously called it: “One small step for a man; one giant leap for humanity.”
These new moments in the history of humanity have allowed fortunate brave women and men astronauts to reflect on the experience of looking from the windows of their space capsules at this “vibrant blue and white sphere” a “fragile living object” or in the famous description of scientist and astronomer, Carl Sagan, “a pale, blue dot.” Due to the enormous distances from which they are seeing Earth, all speak of it as a tiny island of beauty in an otherwise vast atmosphere of cold darkness dotted with countless stars.
They have also reflected on the personal impact on them from what they experienced in space.
Perhaps the most famous of these was in a speech which Carl Sagan gave at Cornell University in 1994 where he said: “Look again at that dot: that’s here; that’s home; that’s us. On it everyone you are, everyone you knew, the aggregate of our joys and sufferings.”
The Catholic–Christian tradition has a vital word to add here. We hold that this “pale blue dot” and the seemingly endless spaces and stellar bodies around us have been created by the One Whom we worship as Incomprehensible Mystery – the I AM. And even more incredibly, this Divine Being has come among us as God’s Word made incarnate. Pope Francis expresses the belief this way: “The Father is the ultimate source of everything… the Son is His reflection… uniting Himself to the earth when he was formed in the womb of Mary.” (Laudato si, #238)
These secular and religious responses to humanity’s “giant leap” impact directly on this Season of Creation and its principal objectives: recognizing the blasphemy which the horrific damage we have done to this gorgeous home the Creator has provided for us; and the divine mandate to heal it. Again, Pope Francis has a startling comment on this sin: “Because of the harm we have inflicted on her… the Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” (LS # 2, 21)
The overriding cause is that human avarice, shortsightedness, and misused power have brought about this dire situation. Pope Francis calls for an “ecological conversion,” a massive change of heart, a new paradigm. In calling for this conversion the Holy Father gets very specific. “The pace on consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle …can only precipitate catastrophes…”
Therefore, let us also get specific here. Our modern sense of entitlement and our unquestioning presumption of having air conditioning underscores the pope’s warning. Most AC machines, fueled by electricity, produce emissions that contribute to global warning. Also the average air conditioner signifies anywhere between five and 20 gallons of water used each day.
Changing our mindsets about this “First World” luxury would be another “giant leap” and gift to humanity.
Joe Nangle OFM is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and the 2023 Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace. As a member of the Assisi Community in Washington, D.C., he is dedicated to simple living and social change. Joe also serves as the Pastoral Associate for the Latino community at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Arlington, Virginia.
Thank you Fr. Joe. May each of us allow, commit to, and act upon a continuing transformation of our life and activity. Peace.
Pope Francis in Laudato Si also said that individual sacrifices of material comforts by themselves, even at a large scale, are not comparable to the corporate and governmental damage done by unchecked combustion and extraction of fossil fuels. He urges rapid, large-scale conversion from coal, oil and gas to wind, solar and controlled nuclear power. So do Project Drawdown and other science-based authorities. Surely we ought to do both, individual choices like eating less red meat and not idling our vehicles as much as some do–but much more so governments pressuring industries to go green while also setting examples by going green themselves.
Father Nangle, Peace be with you. You hit me hard today. I am one of those “first world” humans who relies on air conditioning to live in the southeast USA. I try to minimize my use of my home air conditioner not because I’m guilty of contributing to the global warming but because I’m trying to minimize the impact on the budget. I think part of the reason I rely on air conditioning is because of the global warming phenomenon? maybe not? It’s complicated, I will remember to do my penance. May God forgive me. Thank you for your love and kindness.
Thanks, Joe! But have you ever lived in the south? OMG! Not my air conditioner, no please! Now that’s getting down to the nitty-gritty! You are talking about a real transformation, a change in deeper attitude. Dude, you ARE serious! You have challenged me.
Thank you! Bob Cushing
Dear Fr Joe our presidential candidates are not putting Global Warming first. Nor are they planning to divest the world of Nuclear Arms. It’s all about their sacred Economy and Big Money interests.
Meanwhile tens of thousands starve in Africa, floods claim thousands of lives across the globe , millions live tents in the desert while gun violence continues unabated and support of wars by us are common. it is paramount that we modify our appetites and adjust the thermostats to margins of survival. However the real changes can be made by our national leaders and the big money that supports them. Our Leaders are proving to be moral derelicts. Changing that is our duty. We must boycott large corporations that are squeezing the life out of good people. Changing that is our duty. Our “finger in the dike “ must warrant new dikes. By saying “ the poor we will always have with us “ is a poor motivation for social Justice. Let’s direct our life blood to jobs that can save our suffering world from human abuse. Let us modify our lives and organize to do this.