World Day of Prayer for the Care of Earth

From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the world unite to pray and care for creation. It's the "Season of Creation," and it's happening all around the world! The theme for this year's celebration is "walking together."

September 1 is the designated day for WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION. This is a day that we can all come together in prayer to advocate for and protect our common home, live more simply, and pray for and with God's creation. What a wonderful and beautiful gift it is!

I recently took part in a webinar sponsored by the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) and they spoke of the "green time" of Pentecost. Because care of creation is a growing concern for all people, Christians around the world are coming together to pray during the Season of Creation dating September 1 - October 4. It is being considered a Liturgical season of the year for Catholics, Lutherans, Orthodox, Anglicans, and Evangelical traditions!

We can see from this that we are a global body of Christ. These ecumenical events and prayers that will be taking place across the world will be prayers expressing one call to care for creation. Let us pray in solidarity with and for our brothers and sisters and all of creation, especially those who are affected by global warming, floods, fires, and neglect of the needs of our planet. Remember, we are all "walking together" for the same purpose.

Pope Francis reminds us that "we are all connected;" that there is an interconnectedness with all of creation. He convened the first World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in 2015 to challenge us to work toward an "ecological conversion" and in the spirit of his encyclical, Laudato Si.

Let us celebrate together this great day of prayer and pray in the words of Pope Francis:

"All powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as sisters and brothers, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in yours eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite life. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love, and peace."

Written by Sister Regina Hlavac, D.C.