World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation – 1 September

WelCom September 2018:

In 2015 Pope Francis declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. According to Pope Francis, ‘The annual World Day of prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live.’

Season for Creation 1 September – 4 October

The Season of Creation is an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action to protect creation across the globe observed during the month of September leading up to St Francis Day, 4 October. (seasonofcreation.com)

The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘walking together’ and will be celebrated by Christian and other faith traditions as brothers and sisters on a pilgrimage of shared reflection and action to better care of creation.

Inspired by Laudato Si’, the Global Catholic Climate Movement invites Catholics to celebrate the Season of Creation worldwide. Visit the Global Catholic Climate Movement’s web page ‘Season of Creation’ to read how to reduce your ecological footprint. You can also access resources for each week of the Season of Creation. (catholicclimatemovement.global)

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A Prayer in Union with Creation

– Pope Francis

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 channels of your love
for all the 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.