Holy Father prays for the victims of the terrible earthquake and tsunami.


BY SARA ANGLE (CNS)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saying he, too, was horrified by the images of the
death and destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Pope
Benedict XVI asked people to join him in praying for the victims. “May the
bereaved and injured be comforted and may the rescue workers be strengthened
in their efforts to assist the courageous Japanese people,” the Pope said
in English March 13 after reciting the Angelus prayer with visitors in St.
Peter’s Square. Government officials estimated that perhaps 10,000 people
lost their lives after the earthquake March 11 and the tsunami it triggered.
Speaking in Italian after the Angelus, the Pope said, “The images of the
tragic earthquake and the consequent tsunami in Japan have left us deeply
horrified. “I want to renew my spiritual closeness to that country’s
dear people, who with dignity and courage are dealing with the consequences
of the calamity. I pray for the victims and their families and for all who
are suffering because of these terrible events. I encourage all those who,
with laudable speed, are working to bring help. Let us remain united in
prayer.” Bishop Marcellino Daiji Tani of Saitama, one of the dioceses hit
hardest by the disaster, told the Catholic missionary news agency Fides that
the catastrophe is a reminder that “life is in the hands of God and that
life is a gift from God.” He described the tragedy as a challenge for
Christians during Lent “to practice and witness to the commandment of love
and brotherly love.” However, he also told Fides, “Of particular concern
to us is the situation of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. But we must
take courage, with the help of the Holy Spirit.” Two reactors at the
Fukushima plant were hit by explosions and another was losing its cooling
system. Japanese officials were playing down the health risks posed by the
emergency at the plant, but they did order evacuations for hundreds of
thousands of people. In a message March 13 to members of the Orthodox
Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said the Japanese
tragedy demonstrates the threat posed by nuclear power plants, and it calls
for serious reflection. “With all due respect to the science and
technology of nuclear energy and for the sake of the survival of the human
race, we counter-propose the safer green forms of energy,” the patriarch
said. The Orthodox patriarch, who is a leading proponent of a Christian
environmental theology, said in his message, “Our Creator granted us the
gifts of the sun, wind, water and ocean, all of which may safely and
sufficiently provide energy. Therefore we ask: Why do we persist in adopting
such dangerous sources of energy?” Meanwhile, Father Daisuke Narui, the
director of Caritas Japan told Fides, “This painful event may be an
opportunity to spread the values of the Gospel, that is, the fraternity of
all men and women, the building of common good, the recognition that every
person has the dignity of a child of God and is important in the eyes of
God. “If with our work and our witness we can communicate that, then from
this evil will come good.”

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/prayers-for-japan/
 
I found this at National Catholic Register. We all need to pray for the people in Japan and not forget that such a thing could happen anywhere, including here.  I know I can't even begin to understand all that they are going through. The pain, the fear and the heartache must be horrendous. The people in Japan are our brothers and sisters in Christ and need our prayers and our help.
 
And also as we become concerned about all that is happening with the nuclear reactors we must keep in mind that the earth is a gift to us from God and we must be good stewards. So maybe in our prayers we can also ask God to show us the way to more healthier, greener ways of energy. I never thought too much about that before, but have come to realize that the way we are stewards of this earth has affects on others, even those who come after us. Maybe as individuals we can do our small little things to care more for the gift God has given, the world around us, because that world is meant to be a gift to all.
 
 I hope and pray God will show us new and safer ways of energy and continue to pray for the people that have been affected by the nuclear radiation.
 
Saint Francis, patron saint of the environment, pray for us.