The document discusses reinterpreting the evangelical counsels of chastity, obedience, and poverty as vows for mutual sustainability, relationship, and collaboration. It proposes living out these vows through practices like simple living, limiting consumption and waste, buying local and fair trade, renewable energy, public transportation, and living sustainably within our share of the planet's resources. The document is from a Passionist Earth and Spirit Center and encourages taking a Lenten practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving focused on caring for creation and living more sustainably.

1. A Vow for Mutual Sustainability Session 3.

2. Session format Galatians 5: 13 – The Freedom to follow Christ Reinterpreting the Evangelical Counsels A Vow for Mutual Sustainability Passionist Earth and Spirit Center: Lent 4.5 project

3. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another… …If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. Galatians 5: 13-26

4. PerfectaeCaritatis Indeed from the very beginning of the Church men and women have set about following Christ with greater freedom and imitating Him more closely through the practice of the evangelical counsels, each in his own way leading a life dedicated to God. Evangelical Counsels

5. Reinterpreting the Evangelical Counsels, Imperatives rather than Counsels Vows FOR rather than OF Signifying an intentional progression Focus on the Spirit rather than a legalistic approach to living these Counsels The Spirit calls us to reassess our relationships with Ourselves (Chastity) our Community (Obedience) and our Resources (Poverty)

6. Chastity All human beings, created by God to love and to be loved, fulfill their vocations in different ways. Following the example of Christ and for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, we choose [chastity] with full freedom, giving all our love to God who is Supreme love and to our fellow human beings. #16 A vow for relatedness “Know thyself.” maintain integrity of who you are in your relationship with God and all of humanity Understand yourself in relationship with all humanity maintaining fidelity to yourself, fully respecting the dignity of all but maintaining appropriate priorities and distinctions. Become a witness of incarnational living

7. Obedience God our Father has a loving purpose for the world and for every person it contains. In the Father's plan Christ freely accepted the role of servant, and becoming our brother was "obedient unto death.”…The mediation of others, especially of Superiors and the community, helps us know God's will. Accepting this meditation in a spirit of faith, we become witnesses to the dynamic presence of Christ and His constant love of the Father.#20&21 Vow for Mutual Collaboration Identify oneself in the context of having shared responsibility within a local and global community Service of mutuality, partnership Engaging with the community but listening to the wisdom of the group.

8. Poverty This spirit of poverty, awakened in us by Christ's grace, makes us more ready to give service to all. Like the first Christian community, one in heart and one in spirit, and holding all their goods in common, we do not look upon our possessions as our own. Having chosen to live together, we wish to share what we have in a simple and modest lifestyle. #11 Vow for Mutual Sustainability Stewards of Creation, goods entrusted to us by God Non-possessive ownership of the commons: sharing the natural resources with the larger community and future generations Living simply so that others may simply live

9. A Vow For Mutual Sustainability The Earth is our home planet. It is holy ground, made sacred by the footsteps of Jesus. From the beginning God declared it very good. Today there is a growing awareness that God’s planet is being damaged and its resources are not fairly shared. Caring for creation and living more simply are an essential part of faith for those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus today. Passionist Earth and Spirit Center, Lent 4.5

10. A Vow For Mutual Sustainability Passionist Earth and Spirit Center: Lent 4.5 project Lent is the appropriate time to reflect on how our lifestyle impacts the world and other people with whom we share it through a process of: Prayer - prayers of gratitude, penance and quite listening Fasting – period of self-denial when Christians traditionally give up things Almsgiving – practice off charity and justice in pursuit of the common good. 4.5 – with a human population of 6.5 billion if we divide the usable area of the planet evenly every person would be entitled to 4.5 acres in order to live sustainably. India - 1.9: Tanzania – 2.6: Italy – 12.2: United States – 22.3

11. A Vow For Mutual Sustainability Christian Simplicity Consumption Food Water Energy Transportation

12. Christian Simplicity Fasting for a Compassionate and Simple Life Give up Plastic and Paper bags. Use reusable canvas bags Abstain from over scheduling your life, connect with the natural world at least once each day Daily prayer. Sit quietly in gratitude for the gift of creation.

13. Consumption Visit www.catalogchoice.org and stop unwanted catalogs. Avoid unnecessary consumption Replace recreational shopping with meaningful Sabbath time with the family Eliminate impulse buying, apply 30 day rule – wait 30 days after you decide to purchase something and then see if you need it. What to buy? Where to Buy? Buy local, organic and fair trade products. Buy in bulk (eliminates excess packaging (and saves money) Trash Reduce consumption, Reuse everything possible, recycle when possible Think before you print. Print and copy on both sides, use recylce paper

14. Food Abstain or limit your Meat intake. What and Where to Buy: Explore local farmers’ market. Become a member of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to get fresh fruits and vegetables from local organic farmers. Buy organic fair trade coffee/tea products from CRS or other reputable organizations At Home: Purge kitchen of disposable storage containers. Learn about the toxicity of some plastic containers Set up a food composting bin or site at home Learn to fast safely, develop eating patterns that fit your values Abstain from rich foods that affect you body.

15. Water Give up the bottled water. In the Kitchen: Have a dishwasher fast. Limit your dishwasher use by having it fully loaded, skipping the pre-rinse cycle or hand-washing your dishes. Avoid wasting water during food preparation In the bathroom: Fix leaky faucets and toilets. Reduce your shower time Place a brick in your toilet water tank Doing laundry: Clean only full loads Abstain from harsh detergents . Going natural is easier for your clothes and the waterways

16. Energy Give up incandescent light bulbs. Using Energy efficient light bulbs you will avoid emitting 700-800 pounds of CO2 Heating and Cooling Limit your thermostat by 2 degrees. Limit the use of air conditioners Make sure your doors and windows are sealed Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat Heated Water Dishwashing, laundry and showers – use the shortest wash that will get the job done. Turn off the dishwasher at the drying cycle and let natural air dry do its job. Appliances: Abstain from Clothes Dryer and become introduced to a clothes line. Use energy saving settings Power down. Use power strips and turn it off when not in use. Get an energy audit from your local utility company Give up or limit TV for lent.

17. Transportation Abstain from the use of the car. Become a cyclist Consider alternatives: Sacrifice. Before getting into a car ask yourself if the trip is absolutely necessary. Become familiar with public transportation or organize a car pool. Skip the elevator and take the stairs Walk to all locations within 6 blocks Plan ahead – combine many of your small trips. If you must drive Keep tires inflated Do not warm the engine for more then 10 seconds. Do not keep the car idle. Make your next purchase a fuel efficient car. Do not drive faster then 60 MPH