World Environment Day - Care for the Earth

 - June 11, 2015

 

On this 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we also mark World Environment Day, celebrated globally on June 5th each year. In our liturgy, prepared by our Faith and Justice Committee, we are reminded of Pope Francis’ recent words on climate change: “The effective struggle against global warming will only be possible with a responsible collective answer that goes beyond particular interests and behavior and is developed free of political and economic pressures. On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ethical imperative to act. The establishment of an international climate change treaty is a grave ethical and moral responsibility.”

Later this week, on June 18th, Pope Francis', encyclical letter on the Environment, and on our role as stewards of God’s bounteous creation, will be published. Its title, "Laudato Sii," is taken from The Canticle of the Creatures, composed by St. Francis of Assisi in the Umbrian dialect in 1225, the year before his death. It praises God for the gift of creation, for mercy and forgiveness, and for “Sister Death”, through which our bodies return to the earth and our spirits to our Creator. Let us pray with St. Francis – and with his namesake, Pope Francis – this beautiful canticle of praise:

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night: You are beautiful, playful, robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, producing various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.