Adeline Voizard Illustrations by By•bm
Ten Keys Series idea from Claire Boutrolle d’Estaimbuc Under the direction of Romain Lizé, President, Magnificat Editor, Magnificat: Isabelle Galmiche Editor, Ignatius: Vivian Dudro Translator: Magnificat - Ignatius Proofreader: Kathleen Hollenbeck Layout: Magali Meunier Production: Thierry Dubus, Audrey Bord Original French édition: Les 10 clefs pour protéger notre monde © 2022, Pierre Téqui éditeur, Paris, France © 2025 by Magnificat, New York • Ignatius Press, San Francisco All rights reserved ISBN Magnificat 978-1-63967-109-0 • ISBN Ignatius Press 978-1-62164-797-3
Adeline Voizard & By•bm
CONTENTS The Legend of the Hummingbird........................28 Conclusion. ..........................................................30 Introduction. ..........................................................6 Marvel at the World’s Beauty...............................8 The First Key Get Your Hands Dirty..........................................10 The Second Key Get to Know the Animals and the Plants Living Around You......................12 The Third Key Treat Water as a Treasure..................................14 The Fourth Key Be Watchful of Your Energy Use........................16 The Fifth Key Give a Second Life to Your Waste......................18 The Sixth Key Simple Ways to Have Fun..................................20 The Seventh Key Find Joy in Sharing and Giving...........................22 The Eighth Key Be Kind to Those in Need...................................24 The Ninth Key Encourage and Inspire People Around You........26 The Tenth Key The Tiny Key
Intr ducti n Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs. —Saint Francis of Assisi Sister Earth is magnificent. Through her God-given abundance, we have everything we need to live: the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. God asks us to care for the earth as we would any gift that we have been given. That means not being wasteful with what we use, making sure we are tidy, and, most of all, treating all God’s creatures with the respect they deserve. With a little effort and thoughtfulness, we can help to build a cleaner and more loving world for everyone. Use the following ten keys to care for God’s gift—our common home, as Pope Francis calls it—with joy. 6
Marvel at the W rld’s Beauty rld’s Beauty Have you ever paid close attention to the many colors of the sky, of the trees along your street, or even of your parents’ eyes? The variety of the gifts of nature is surprising and a source of wonder. Take the time to notice the beauty all around you. And be thankful for it. Use all your senses: smell the scent of your meal and savor each bite; look up at the clouds when you go outside; listen to the birdsongs in the morning; and hug the people you love! This first key is essential, because as you appreciate the marvelous gifts in your life, you will want to take care of them. Start a diary of wonder. Every day make a note in it about something beautiful or someone special in your life. TIP 8 The First Key
The Legend f the Hummingbird 28 Let me tell you the legend of the hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. One day, a violent storm broke out in the Amazon rainforest. Lightning struck a dead tree, and it caught on fire; the fire quickly spread to the surrounding trees. All the animals in the forest got scared. The brown pelican and the sloth, the monkey and the toucan, the macaw and the armadillo, the snake and the jaguar—they all flew or ran away. They left the forest and found shelter in a clearing at the edge of the river. The hummingbird, who spends his days flying from one blooming flower to the next to drink their nectar, also looked with fear at the forest in flames. He approached The Tiny Key
the river, took a few drops of water in his beak and flew back to throw them on the flames. He did it again and again and again, as fast as his little wings permitted. The other animals saw him trying to put out the huge fire with tiny drops of water and called out to him: “Don’t you see, Mr. Hummingbird, that your efforts are useless? Do you think you’ll put out the fire with a few drops of water?” Without stopping, the hummingbird replied: “I know I can’t do it alone. But I’ll do the best I can!” 29
30 C nclusion Your ancestors cared for the earth and one another as best they could. Now it’s your turn to cherish the gifts you have been given and use them well for the benefit of yourself and the world around you. The ten keys in this book show how you can do your share to care for the resources, the plants, the animals, and the people in your community. Yes, as a child, you are small like the hummingbird. Yet, every good act—no matter how little— is worthwhile. Imagine how much better the world would be if all of us did our part! Practicing these keys will give you a sense of purpose and bring joy to you and others. So… what are you waiting for?!
Printed in May 2025 by Dimograf, Poland Job number 25L0603 Printed in compliance with the Consumer Protection Safety Act, 2008
Ten keys for sharing and taking care of the gifts God has given us. Ten simple, practical ways to make the world around us a better place for all. Ten tips for filling our lives with wonder, gratitude, and joy. AGES 7 AND UP
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