Seven years after the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’—which bears the subtitle “On caring for our common home”—the Catholic Church is preparing once again to mark the global Season of Creation. This worldwide ecumenical celebration of prayer and commitment to the conservation of the environment is an annual event, lasting from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.
“Listen to the Voice of Creation,” even as the forests deplete, animals struggle for survival, and people are forced to flee manmade climate disasters, is the theme for this year’s Season of Creation. In his message for the occasion, Pope Francis says the sweet song of creation invites us to experience God’s presence in the natural world and practise what is referred to in Laudato Si’ as an “ecological spirituality.” Through celebration, conversion, and commitment, the Church in this season offers humanity the chance to renew its relationship with the Creator and creation.
“In this Season of Creation,” Pope Francis writes, “we pray once more in the great cathedral of creation, and revel in the ‘grandiose cosmic choir’ made up of countless creatures, all singing the praises of God. Let us join St. Francis of Assisi in singing: ‘Praise be to you, my Lord, for all your creatures’ [cf. Canticle of Brother Sun]. Let us join the psalmist in singing, ‘Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!’ [Ps 150:6].”
Christians worldwide pray for our common home this season and renew our commitments to care for God’s creation. Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I of Constantinople proclaimed September 1 as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation in 1989. Subsequently, the World Council of Churches extended the celebration until the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis proclaimed the Season of Creation an official celebration in the Catholic Church in 2015.
As this season approaches, what can we do to contribute to the care for our surroundings and Hong Kong’s environment? Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ, in an interview recently published on the Green Messengers website, spoke of personal choices each individual has to make in taking care of one another and one’s surroundings. He voiced his concerns about our lack of seriousness when it comes to issues the pope dealt with in the encyclical. It has been seven years since the encyclical was published, yet many people still think it has nothing to do with them.
Human selfishness and indifference prevent people from nurturing concern for their brethren. However, as Pope Francis wrote in Laudato Si’: “Nothing in this world is indifferent to us.”When we don’t care about polluting the environment, or about climate change, people, animals, and plants suffer, becoming victims of our irresponsible behaviour.
The papal message acknowledges this human indifference that threatens the “sweet song of creation” and writes about “a chorus of cries of anguish. It is our sister, mother earth, who cries out. Prey to our consumerist excesses, she weeps and implores us to put an end to our abuses and to her destruction.”
We are called not only to listen but to respond with action that enables all beings to rejoice in life and hope during this Season of Creation.
Jose, CMF
