Cosmic Walk Prayer in Response to
Pope Francis’ Global Day of Prayer for Our Common Home
This prayer-pilgrimage is designed to be used with Prairiewoods’ Cosmic Walk, a symbolic journey through the woods
representing the Story of the Universe and its emergence through 14 billion years of evolutionary history. Begin at the
start of the Cosmic Walk trail behind the Center, and end at the thirteenth station, near the Labyrinth.
Reader: We gather outside today, although we are really inside. We are inside this world of wonder, this
magnificent cosmos that is our womb and our tomb. On this day, the Pope has asked us to pray for “Our
Common Home,” the beautiful creation that God gives us. So as we enter into this prayer-pilgrimage, we
listen for the whisper of God’s breath and feel the tenderness of God’s caress as we make this journey
together in silent reverence, awe and gratitude.
First Station: The Great Flaring Forth
Here about 14 billion years ago, in a time that was vast and chaotic, the emerging Universe began to shape its
energies into intricate patterns and rhythms. Without the shaping of these early patterns, the story we are
telling would have ceased billions of years ago. Here is the birth of ourselves and of everyone and everything
we love. From this miraculous second, the entire Universe emerged. All that we know comes from this one
Source. We pause here, aware of the unity of all life, of our oneness with everything in the Universe.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Second Station: The Galaxies
Coming to the second station, we have already walked two billion years. It was about 12 billion years ago that
the first stars illuminated the enveloping horizon. They flared up and exploded into brilliant supernovas,
creating millions of new stars. Scientists now know that there are about a hundred thousand million galaxies in
the observable universe. To these early stars we owe all the ingredients of a carbon-based life. We pause here
to gaze at the heavens, remembering that we are made of stardust.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 1
Third Station: The Milky Way
A few billion years later, our own home galaxy is born, illuminating the skies with millions of stars. Here we
stop to consider the beauty of the night sky, the enormous number of stars in this one galaxy and the vast
expanses of space and time. We consider the power of the universe to hold all things together. We are
grateful for how Spirit has woven creation with the gift of light. We celebrate all the ways in which we receive
light, purpose and hope.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Fourth Station: Our Sun and Planetary System
Our home was created when one special star, which we have learned to call Tiamat, exploded, creating our
own sun and planet Earth. In her spectacular death, Tiamat tossed into the night sky new elements that she
had forged within herself, elements like calcium, sulphur and phosphorus. She invented carbon and nitrogen
and sculpted oxygen … astounding powers that would one day sparkle as life. Tiamat was brilliant, creative
and passionate. She bequeathed to us her beauty, power and joy. What gifts!
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 2
Fifth Station: Earth
A disk of gas and dust, including some of the embers of Tiamat, surrounded a newly formed sun. There are
particles of iron and rock, water and gas. More materials are swept together through gravitational attraction.
Planets are formed. It took four million years for the seething mass of molten iron, rock, steam and gas to
form our Earth. 200 million more years were needed for the consolidation of the Earth. Earth is now 600
million years old, the universe is just over 10 thousand million years old. We are nearly three quarters of the
way through our cosmic journey. We pause to consider the wisdom and intelligence that are innate at every
level of this cosmic story. Everything that is happening is for the good of the whole and is the source of human
intelligence. Consider: The presence of living Spirit is grounded in creation.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Sixth Station: Life on Earth
Life on Earth most certainly began sometime in the next 50 million years, most likely in the shallow waters of
the sea. Naturally occurring organic chemicals organized themselves. Cells formed. Through trial and error
over millions of years, a particular strain of cells—or maybe only one particular cell—produced chemicals that
could carry information about how to make materials necessary for maintenance and growth. Reproduction
began. The current consensus of opinion is that just one quasi-living cell made this final step. If so, one unique,
minute bubble of life is the ancestor of all living things, including us. Consider: We are members of the
kingdom of living organisms with our beginning about 3,850 million years ago. We reflect on the power of the
universe to be creative, to transcend itself.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 3
Seventh Station: Multi-Cellular Species
For 900 million years, bacteria were the only life forms on the planet, living only in the seas. Life on land is not
possible because of intense ultra-violet radiation from the sun. For a long time, life is on a knife-edge. But cells
begin to differentiate and specialize. New possibilities of life open up. Diversity accelerates the emergence of
new species. We pause to thank and celebrate the simple organisms from whom emerged the entire canopy
of life-forms that adorn creation today.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Eighth Station: Life Goes on Land, Vertebrate Animals
In a new development of life, plants and fungi appear. The first insects emerge. Forests flourish. The first
vertebrate animals, the amphibians, begin to inhabit dry land. The complexity of embodied life reaches a new
apex of elegance and beauty. Earth is becoming home to millions of species. We pause to consider: Earth
seems to be endowed with an infinite capacity for innovation and creativity.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 4
Ninth Station: Dinosaurs, Flowers, First Mammals
Living being was developed to a point where it could survive. The coming of the flowers changed the face of
the planet, producing seeds and invertebrates. This reproduction led to dinosaurs, to proto-birds and later to
the first mammals. Consider the greater chance for survival that came with the mammals. The fertilized egg
could be retained in the mother’s body until the young animal or human fruit emerged, vital energy in a
concentrated form. Without the flowers we humans would never have developed as we have. Consider the
enormous interlinked complexity of life, our mystifying emergence through the coming of the flowers. The
universe manifests its power of synergy.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Tenth Station: Ice Age, First Humans
Seven million years ago, Africa gave birth to the Human Species. Now we inhabit the entire planet, bringing
forth new mental and spiritual powers through which matter becomes conscious of itself. Evolution moved to
a new spiritual threshold as humans struggled to make sense of their awesome existence. Consider the
journey so far: The fireball gave way to stars. Stars birthed planets. Biological and human history expressed
new forms of creativity. Consciousness awoke.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 5
Eleventh Station: Modern Homo Sapiens
A species transition. Transformations led to human identity with increased brain size and physical adaptations.
There is psychic development, a new sense of self-identity, artistic expression and emotional communication.
Existence was greatly enhanced. Humans developed a sense of time and space. Rapport with Earth and with a
Divine Being are expressed in ritual celebrations. Language is developed. Contemplate: Our existence comes
from the heart of the Universe. The human story rose out of an irreversible sequence of transformations. The
original and mysterious energy of the Universe is present in us.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Twelfth Station: Our Species Today
The human race is awakening to the reality that all is one. We can look back on the entire 14 billion years as
an epic that must be viewed as a whole to understand its full meaning. This meaning is the extravagance of the
creative outpouring where each being is given its unique existence. The Universe has brought forth a great
unfurling of life. Consider: The evolutionary impulse continues in us.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Thirteenth Station: Consciousness Changing
We have learned that we are the Universe becoming aware of ourselves. Now we claim our place as cosmicplanetary creatures, alive in a wonderful world, welcoming the powers of the Universe to continue developing
in us.
Response: We thank you, Creator, for the gift of life!
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 6
Questions for Reflection as We Return in Silence
• Where do you find yourself drawn into this story of the universe?
• What makes your heart dance with gratitude as you hear this story of creation?
• What is our greatest challenge as we care for our common home today?
• What gives you hope as we face the challenges together?
i thank You God for most this amazing
i thank You God for most this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
e.e. cummings
1894–1962
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 7
Closing Prayer
Creator God, we thank you for the astounding gift of creation! We celebrate life in all its bewildering
diversity. We are held so graciously in the expansive web of your love. Fill us with wonder and joy in this
journey and love of life. Help us to tend this magnificent creation with the love befitting the children of God.
Help us to conserve natural resources, preserve fragile eco-systems, and nurture plant and animal life as we
tend the common good. Help us to reach out and care for the least among us: the poor, the marginalized, the
abused, and the despised. Help us to be worthy stewards of your profound gift of life in all its infinite variety.
We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen.
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
www.Prairiewoods.org
Page 8