ALL CREATION CRIES OUT
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of the victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.
Pope Francis
In 2015, Pope Francis declared September 1 the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This year, we mark this Sunday as the occasion on which to pray and reflect on our own responsibility to deepen our relationship with the natural world.
What does that even mean – to deepen our relationship with the natural world? Not only does it call for our recognition that we have only one world and we are responsible for its survival. It also requires us to see the reality in front of us: climate change is real and it is happening now. The tragic wildfire that engulfed Jasper this summer, destroying a third of this famous town in the Canadian Rockies, was just one example of natural disasters happening across the globe more frequently and in ever more deadly fashion.
Speaking to Canadians, Calgary Bishop William McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), said in a press release issued August 26: “We are called to an ecological conversion, to care for our environment as an expression of our love for God and our neighbours. On this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, let us come together in solidarity with all people of goodwill to pray, reflect, and act for the protection of our planet.”
So yes, we need a change of mind. But, for Catholics, this is only a start. To really understand our responsibility for the globe, we also need a spiritual conversion. To that end, Pope Francis has chosen the theme “Hope and Act with Creation” for this year’s World Day of Prayer.
Though called a “day of prayer,” it is also a call to action. Pope Francis says:
“Promote global solidarity in light of the fact that biodiversity is a global common good demanding a shared commitment. Give priority to people in situations of vulnerability, including those most affected by the loss of biodiversity, such as indigenous peoples, the elderly and the young.”
So prayer is combined with real efforts to change our own behaviour on a personal, community and societal level to battle the ways our civilization has recklessly consumed the earth’s resources without regard for the impact of our behaviour on the air, water and land we inhabit along with all the rest of earth’s creatures.
Labour Day weekend is often thought of as the end of summer, though it officially carries on for a few weeks yet. On this weekend, many of us take the opportunity to head out of town and revisit our connection with nature, whether through camping, a cottage weekend, or even a walk in the countryside. It is a perfect time to add a prayer for all of creation, and remind ourselves we are all creatures of God.
But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
The birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this?
In His hand is the life of every living thing
And the breath of every human being.
Job 12:7-10
Joseph Sinasac is the recently retired Publishing Director of Novalis Publishing. He has been involved with religious communications for almost 45 years as an author, journalist, editor and TV and radio commentator on all things Catholic.
