september 26, 2021
The month of September has been designated as the “Season of Creation”. Pope Francis, with all Catholic Bishops, along with the Eastern Rite Orthodox Bishops, has asked us to focus on the beauty, wonder and expanse of creation in a way to prepare for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, October 4th.
We might associate St. Francis with the blessing of animals and that is correct. St. Francis further points us to the deeper realities of all creation. In his hymn “Brother Son, Sister Moon” he praises God for the wonder of all creation, all created things including death. St. Francis calls us to a spirituality of Incarnation, the mystery of the Son of God taking upon himself our humanity. For St. Francis all creation speaks of God’s presence and the profound value of human life.
Pope Francis in his encyclical letter “Laudato Si’”, Praise to you, my Lord, focuses our attention on an integral ecology, an understanding of all creation, all created things, being integrally connected in such a profound way that what happens to one human being effects all others and what happens in creation, to the environment, to our economy influences all humanity.
Pope Francis points out that St. Therese of Lisieux, feast day October 1, invites us to a little way of love by showing small acts of goodness, a kind word, a smile all of which sow peace and friendship. These Pope Francis states “break the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness”. #230 Laudato Si’.
Pope Francis will go on in Laudato Si’ to speak to international governments and agencies to address issues of the economy, climate change and human trafficking with the understanding of how all these are interconnected and effect the poor and marginalized greatly.
These are difficult issues to face. Let us listen with our hearts to God’s love for all. Let us act with everyday gestures of kindness. Let us ask that world leaders address the difficult topics of climate change, racism, human trafficking, poverty and hunger.
