Mothers to the Earth

The publication of the encyclical letter “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home” by Pope Francis, on 24^th May 2015 was truly a landmark moment –  a vital reference document of theological and spiritual impact, a rich meditation, and  a practical signpost on collaboration, as well as a call to each of us individually, and together, to acknowledge our innate responsibility to live in such a way (in all aspects of our life) so as to care for our common home, as Mothers to the Earth, even as the Earth is Mother to us, in a reciprocal embrace.

The re-reading, revisiting and studying  of its content helps us understand more clearly  how we can “accept the world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbours on a global scale. It is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet”.[18] (LS,#9).

For we know that things can change

Laudato Si’ Week began as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ world-changing papal encyclical letter. It now takes place every year. The encyclical has helped the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics better understand that “everything is connected” and has placed millennia of Catholic teaching into the context of today’s ecological crisis and climate emergency.

Pope Francis finished writing Laudato Si’ on 24 May 2015, and one year later, thousands of Catholics united to celebrate the encyclical that had already spurred prayer and action for our common home.

For Laudato Si’ Week 2021 (16th – 25th May), across the globe we will take part in this celebration that will serve as the crowning moment of the Laudato Si’ Special Anniversary Year.

The theme for Laudato Sí Week 2021 is “for we know that things can change” (Laudato Si’, 13)

This event is a chance to recognise and celebrate the progress that the global Church has made in its ecological conversion journey during the past six years, as well as offering a clear road map for the decade ahead.

We know that much remains to be done, but we rejoice and celebrate the steps we have taken thus far, and we look to the future with hope.

Workshops and resources: 

An ample array of workshops, trainings, and events are available to help us explore and participate fully in this week .  See Events – Laudato Si Week

We can also pray always, to be able to understand better what is ours to do, so that we can “Walk Lightly on the Earth”.

See link to   Creation Novena – Loving Sister Earth

May Thoughts:

Even our sister Mother Earth speaks of the Heavenly Mother often and keeps her ever before us for those with eyes to see… a shadow of stone, a shape in the clouds, an angle in the crook of a tree, a turning of the head or the rising and falling of the light, these are the sermons of the earth and they always reveal her.

In these gentle whisperings she is always near… always watching over us… always leading us to her Son… always calling us home… always calling us into the embrace of the sacred totality of her yes to God.

Bro. Richard Hendrick, OFM