There was an error in the original publication (Lee 2025). A correction has been made to Section 2. A Christian Perspective on Circular Economy in the Face of Climate Crisis, the second paragraph. The reference citations in this paragraph contained misattributed sources due to an unintended citation management error during manuscript preparation:
“Fortunately, we notice so many examples of circular economy in Monastic culture. Monastic communities have historically practiced sustainability and resource management, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. Monasteries traditionally repair tools, garments, and furniture instead of discarding them. This practice extends the lifecycle of items and reduces waste. Benedictine monks in medieval Europe would repair their agricultural tools and reweave torn garments for continued use (Clark 2011). Monastic gardens often operate on organic farming principles, where waste materials such as food scraps and plant clippings are composted and used as natural fertilizers. Cistercian monasteries cultivated self-sufficient gardens and used compost to maintain soil fertility, demonstrating an early form of nutrient cycling (Lekai 1977). Monasteries developed intricate water management systems, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, to conserve and reuse water for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes. The Monastery of Saint Gall in Switzerland had an advanced water recycling system for both agriculture and sanitation in the 9th century (Horn 1975). Surplus resources, such as crops or textiles, were redistributed to the poor or traded with neighboring communities in all monasteries. This avoided overproduction and ensured resource efficiency. Medieval monastic communities often ran hospices and distributed excess food to the needy, embodying principles of resource sharing (Bowers 2007). Most uniquely and historically, monasteries relied on renewable energy sources such as windmills and watermills for grinding grain and other tasks. Monastic watermills in the Abbey of Fontenay (France) were powered by hydropower, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources (Benoit and Rouillard 2000). There are so many examples of circular economy, and it is another important topic in the crossroad between Christianity and the circular economy.”
With this correction, the reference list has been updated, and the order of some references has been adjusted accordingly.
The following references were removed:
Baker, Laura. 2018. Circular Agriculture in Monastic Gardens: A Historical Perspective. Environment and History 24: 405–28.
Brown, C. 2021. Resource Redistribution in Monastic Economies: An Ethical Framework. Christian Studies Quarterly 37: 15–27.
Clark, H. 2020. Renewable Energy in Monastic History: Hydropower and Windmills. Energy and Society 6: 25–40.
Jones, P. 2020. Medieval Monastic Practices and Their Modern Sustainability Lessons. Green Heritage Journal 23: 58–66.
Smith, R. 2019. Water Management in Monastic Communities: A Study of the Abbey of Saint Gall. Journal of Historical Sustainability 1: 45–60.
The following references were added:
Benoit, Paul, and Josephine Rouillard. 2000. Medieval Hydraulics in France. In Working with Water in Medieval Europe. Edited by Paolo Squatriti. Leiden: Brill, pp. 161–215.
Bowers, Barbara S., ed. 2007. The Medieval Hospital and Medical Practice. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, vol. 3.
Clark, James G. 2011. The Benedictines in the Middle Ages. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, vol. 3.
Horn, Walter. 1975. Water Power and the Plan of St. Gall. Journal of Medieval History 1: 219–58.
Lekai, Louis Julius. 1977. The Cistercians: Ideals and Reality. Kent: Kent State University Press.
The author confirms that this correction does not affect the study’s findings, interpretations, or conclusions but enhances the accuracy, reliability, and scholarly integrity of the citations. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.
Reference
- Lee, Yong-Gil. 2025. Integrating Circular Economy and Laudato Si’: A Christian Framework for Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship. Religions 16: 326. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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