World Day of Prayer for Creation

Pope Francis has established the 1st September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home.

The day is inspired by Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si, which calls on “every person living on this planet” to care for our shared Earth.  He calls us all to celebrate this opportune moment to “reaffirm [our] personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation, as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”

This World Day of Prayer also falls at the beginning of Creation Time, which runs until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.

Shortly after ‘Creation Time’ this year, a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place, focusing on the Amazon region and integral ecology. This will be an opportunity for the Church to listen to the people of the Amazon and respond with them to the devastation facing them and their environment.

“The World Day of Prayer is another opportunity for us to connect with our creator God and allow the Lord to redefine our relationship with the environment: from one of consumption and control to one of care and protection”.

The Synod of Bishops on the Amazonian region

This Synod will take in Rome in October.  Pope Francis has described its organisation as arising as a direct result of Laudato Si (the papal encyclical published in 2015 dedicated exclusively to the environment). Pope Francis describes this document  not as a “green encyclical” but a “social one,” rooted in a “green reality: The care for creation.”  See link to Laudato Si

The synod is an “urgent” gathering, not of scientists and politicians, however, the main discussion of the gathering will be evangelisation, with the region’s biodiversity as part of the agenda.

According to Francis, the Amazon basin is a “representative and decisive place,” that together with the oceans plays a key role guaranteeing the survival of the planet.

A Prayer in union with creation

This prayer was published in Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Laudato Si, inviting us to pray for inspiration so that we can take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.

In Union with Creation …

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus, through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
You became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world as the channels of your love
for all creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good,
advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live.

The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom
Of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!

Amen.

See also the link to the full CAFOD article which contains some useful resources for individual, group and parish activities  World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation