{"id":39159,"date":"2023-11-23T09:18:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T08:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lamennais.org\/?p=39159"},"modified":"2023-11-24T16:16:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T15:16:05","slug":"the-earth-our-common-good-lets-act-now-at-the-heart-of-this-crisis-invites-xavier-de-benaze-jesuit-delegate-for-ecological-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lamennais.org\/en\/the-earth-our-common-good-lets-act-now-at-the-heart-of-this-crisis-invites-xavier-de-benaze-jesuit-delegate-for-ecological-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"THE EARTH OUR COMMON GOOD. “Let’s act now at the Heart of this Crisis” invites Xavier de B\u00e9naz\u00e9, Jesuit Delegate for Ecological Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Delegate of the Jesuits of Europe for the Ecological Transition, Priest and <\/strong>P<\/strong>roject <\/strong>M<\/strong>anager at the Ch\u00e2telard <\/strong>S<\/strong>piritual <\/strong>E<\/strong>co-<\/strong>C<\/strong>enter in Lyon, he is <\/strong>C<\/strong>o-<\/strong>A<\/strong>uthor with C\u00e9cile Renouard of the <\/strong>E<\/strong>cological <\/strong>T<\/strong>ransition <\/strong>C<\/strong>ampus of the <\/strong>B<\/strong>ook \u201cReopen the <\/strong>H<\/strong>orizon \u2013 Manifesto of committed hope in the face of collapses\u201d, Editions Emmanuel, 2023. Invited by the General, <\/strong>A<\/strong>gricultural and Forestry High School Le Nivot, France, overview in his company, with free and direct words.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1.\u00a0 What is the <\/strong>E<\/strong>cological <\/strong>T<\/strong>ransition <\/strong>C<\/strong>ampus on which you lived for two years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is an Eco-Site and an Eco-Campus that operates as an Eco-Network. It develops a Pedagogy linking the Head, the Body and the Heart to explore questions of Ecological and Social Transition by welcoming Researchers and Students, particularly from Major Schools. It is located in Forges, in Seine-et-Marne, between Ile-de-France and Burgundy, in a property lent by the Nuns of the Assumption, a Congregation to which C\u00e9cile Renouard belongs, who is one of the Pioneers to the original of the Campus. Finally, it is a University and Secular Campus which came to fruition in two years. On site, everyone’s beliefs are experienced in the Private Sphere.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.\u00a0 This <\/strong>E<\/strong>co-<\/strong>C<\/strong>ampus has been operating for 5 years, what is your <\/strong>A<\/strong>ssessment?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    What has clearly stood out since the opening in 2018 is the importance of experience in actually trying to lead a sober and happy life<\/strong>, both with hands in the Vegetable Garden and during times of Indoor Weather and Reflection. There is a <\/strong>G<\/strong>reat <\/strong>E<\/strong>xpectation about this <\/strong>and the good discernment that took place at the beginning is now bearing fruit that exceeds expectations. For example, one year after the opening of this Eco – Campus, <\/strong>Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education and Research at the time, commissioned the collective of Researchers to write a White Paper intended to become the Common basis for Licenses in Ecological Transition.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.\u00a0 Why are the Jesuits involved in this area of <\/strong>E<\/strong>cological <\/strong>T<\/strong>ransition?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Looking at the situation in the World, following the Pope’s Text “Laudato si” and the Orientations defined by the Society, we wanted to move towards places where we can work with others to safeguard the Common Home, in combining <\/strong>E<\/strong>xperience and <\/strong>E<\/strong>ducation <\/strong>on relevant grounds.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4.\u00a0 What has this experience changed concretely in your way of life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    I discovered the flavor of Vegetarian Cuisine! I’m not 100% Vegan but we can eat Good, Healthy and varied this way. And we had a Cook who made and taught how to make Wonderful Meals! The other deep treasure is that the Transition Campus remains my Ecological Hive with contacts, Great Friendships and an Ecosystem. It is a very precious heart.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \u201cThis <\/em>E<\/em>cological and <\/em>S<\/em>ocial <\/em>C<\/em>risis is putting many people in the West in an <\/em>E<\/em>xistential <\/em>C<\/em>risis.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5.\u00a0 In the <\/strong>B<\/strong>ook \u201cReopen the <\/strong>H<\/strong>orizon\u201d you believe that <\/strong>T<\/strong>oday is the <\/strong>R<\/strong>ight <\/strong>T<\/strong>ime to <\/strong>A<\/strong>ct, <\/strong>W<\/strong>hy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    We all feel, following the various events experienced directly in our Daily lives in recent times \u2013 Fires, Storms, Shortage of Water Resources, Frequency of Climatic Events, etc. \u2013 that now is the <\/strong>T<\/strong>ime to <\/strong>A<\/strong>ct to <\/strong>C<\/strong>hange this <\/strong>S<\/strong>tate of <\/strong>A<\/strong>ffairs <\/strong>before the consequences become too serious. This is precisely what Pope Francis emphasizes in Laudate deum – the continuation of Laudato si – and we can act!<\/p>\n

    From a Christian point of view, we are living in a Special Moment. This <\/strong>E<\/strong>cological and <\/strong>S<\/strong>ocial <\/strong>C<\/strong>risis is putting many people in the West into an <\/strong>E<\/strong>xistential <\/strong>C<\/strong>risis. <\/strong>for whom the Spiritual Dimension of existence had disappeared in the Ambient Materialism. Life was going pretty well for some and this new situation raises questions about the meaning of their passage on this Earth.<\/p>\n

    The Good News in a Christian Reading of Events is that the Spirit works in <\/strong>H<\/strong>earts in a much broader way than just Christian <\/strong>C<\/strong>ircles. Two questions then arise: how do we get started and how do we reach people on these paths?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6.\u00a0 The Church is also experiencing a situation of <\/strong>T<\/strong>ransition, how are you experiencing this <\/strong>E<\/strong>volution?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    We are clearly in a change of era, as if we were moving from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. In other words, we have to express the Treasure of the Church in new ways, to rediscover it, to offer it differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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    Do we know where we are going? For the most part no, but we have to walk together<\/strong>, this is the meaning of \u201cSynodality\u201d: walking together. This without knowing where this leads us, but this method is good. It’s not easy, but we’re doing it! The important thing is not to be focused on ourselves. The other danger is that our Christian <\/strong>M<\/strong>inority realities lead to <\/strong>C<\/strong>ommunitarian <\/strong>T<\/strong>emptations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    \u201cDo we know where we are going? For the most part no, but we have to move forward together\u201d underlines Xavier de B\u00e9naz\u00e9, sj<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7.\u00a0 We have been talking about a <\/strong>V<\/strong>ocation <\/strong>C<\/strong>risis for 50 years, what does this inspire you today at this moment in <\/strong>H<\/strong>istory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In fact, the Crisis is lasting and the Catholic collapse is a reality in the West. In relation to the number of Practitioners and Christians, the low percentage of Vocations is quite consistent with these figures.<\/p>\n

    To be obsessed with the number of Priests and Religious is to fight the wrong battle. Yes, we need <\/strong>V<\/strong>ocations, but they are born especially <\/strong>from<\/strong> committed Christians<\/strong>. Of course, it is important to us to have Vocations, this is linked to our way of living the Church, that is to say of <\/strong>B<\/strong>eing <\/strong>M<\/strong>issionaries to the people around us. <\/strong>Vocations are firstly linked to this.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8.\u00a0 You are in contact with <\/strong>Y<\/strong>oung <\/strong>P<\/strong>eople and <\/strong>Y<\/strong>oung <\/strong>A<\/strong>dults, what do you want to tell them and what do you expect from them about the <\/strong>E<\/strong>cological <\/strong>T<\/strong>ransition?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    I do not first expect something from young people but from people in responsibility so that they work to change the Economic System of Production. We are experiencing the Crisis today and it is not when young people are in charge that we will have to act, it is now!<\/p>\n

    Naturally, I have a lot of <\/strong>H<\/strong>ope in young people but above all I expect the <\/strong>G<\/strong>eneration in <\/strong>P<\/strong>ower to allow young people to invent a future which will not consist of managing a <\/strong>L<\/strong>ack of <\/strong>R<\/strong>esources.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    As for the young people, I am waiting that they commit without delay and that they are ready to practice a simplicity of life and a way of being in relationship <\/strong>to embody this World to be built.<\/p>\n

    In the Church, I expect young people to structure their words and organize themselves <\/strong>to participate in the Synodal Path, that is to say, to walk together. In our Aging Society there is a Fascination with youth. As soon as some of them speak out it can quickly become Gospel. Let us know how to keep measure and help them to structure themselves to speak out. They will be listened to much more this way. And they already have the tools in hand: for example, with the Ecological Awakening Movement, Advocacy for the Forest, Action Struggle and Contemplation, the Movement of Scouts and Guides of France welcoming the diversity of Environments and so many other Initiatives! I have a lot of hope in this accompanied word. \u00bb<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    \u201cI have a lot of hope in young people but above all I expect the <\/em>G<\/em>eneration in <\/em>P<\/em>ower to allow young people to invent a future which will not consist of managing a <\/em>L<\/em>ack of <\/em>R<\/em>esources.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    Collected by Michel Tanguy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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    Discover your 2022 life journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ng_o0JVV9x8<\/a><\/p>\n

    Eco-<\/strong>S<\/strong>pi advice from Xavier de B\u00e9naz\u00e9 <\/strong>on France 2 Day of the Lord<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n

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