'To Hope and Act with Creation'
The season’s ‘Celebration’ begins 1 September, the Feast of Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. This year, we will unite around the theme ‘To hope and act with Creation’ with the symbol ‘The first fruits of hope’, inspired by Romans 8:19-25. Pope Francis wrote this letter to us.
Pope Francis challenges us to care for our ‘common home’. In both encyclicals, Laudato Si (2015) and Laudato Deum (2023), he reminds us that much must be done. So, as stewards of God’s sacred creation and as Mercy people, let us work and pray together…
All powerful God,
you are present in the universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with your peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle,
for justice, love and peace.
Amen
A prayer for our earth was published in Pope Francis’ encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’.
Image from: https://seasonofcreation.org