Photo: Alessandra Tarantino Living Laudato Si’
September 1st marks the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation. This season, which is now part of the Church’s liturgical calendar, runs until October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron Saint of ecology.
The Season of Creation in an ecumenical season which unites the world’s 2.2 billion Christians around one shared purpose – caring for and praying for our common home. This Season of Creation is even more significant as we are celebrating it in the middle of a pandemic. The COVID19 crisis has reminded us of just how interconnected we are with all of God’s creation. It has highlighted the inter-connectivity of the environment with human health, economic systems, food production chains, political systems and more. It has lifted the veil on many injustices in our society and shown once again that it is the poor who suffer the most when disaster strikes.
As we continue to work together to fight this virus, we are also given an opportunity to reflect on how we can ‘build back better’. What type of world do we want to return to once this crisis has passed? For human beings to be healthy and flourish, our planet, our common home, must also be healthy, for it sustains and nourishes us. We are completely dependant on it.
The theme for the Season of Creation in Ireland this year is “Cultivating Hope”. How can we cultivate hope in the middle of COVID19 and during an environmental crisis that has not gone away? In Laudato Si’ we read: “Hope would have us recognise that there is always a way out, that we can always redirect our steps, that we can always do something to solve our problems…All it takes is one good person to restore hope.” (Laudato Si’, 61, 71).
So in your parish setting, faith community and family settings may I encourage you to mark this season in some way through spending time in prayer, considering ways to inhabit our common home more sustainably, and reflecting on what is truly important.
Pope Francis encourages us in Laudato Si’ to return to a simple prayer of gratitude before meals: “I ask all believers to return to this beautiful and meaningful custom. That moment of blessing reminds us of our dependence on God for life; it strengthens our feeling of gratitude for the gifts of creation; it acknowledges those who provide us with these goods; and reaffirms our solidarity with those in greatest need.” (LS, 227). Creation themed sacred spaces in our churches and homes remind us of the gift of creation and are ways of giving glory to God for this gift. Spending more time in nature, noticing beauty is another simple action that helps us develop a sense of awe and wonder for creation. This in turn, renews in us a desire to protect it. Many parishes have planted native Irish trees to mark this season, perhaps your community could do the same? We start where we can. It is through small actions that we cultivate hope.
There are many wonderful resources for prayer and action available on the Irish Bishops Conference website and on the Trócaire parish resources page. Whatever activity you plan, do share it on social media using the hashtags #SeasonOfCreation or #LiveLaudatoSi
Wishing you a joyful Season of Creation. Blessings on your actions! “Truly, much can be done!” (LS, 180).
Jane Mellett is the Laudato Si’ officer with Trócaire.