Care for God's Creation

"Our Common Home"
A Prayer for Stewardship

God of all creation,
At the beginning of time
You placed a single mandate on humankind
To be stewards of creation
To replenish and nurture
through all generations
What you have made
We kneel today amid that same creation—
A world that is, in many ways,
more splendid than ever
But, in too many ways,
scarred beyond recognition
Turn us from our unmindfulness
Help our touch be light
Help us renew the world that supports us
So we may once more know creation
As it was in the beginning
Amen.

Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

"CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION"

“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?”

(Pope Francis, Laudato Sí, no. 160)

What kind of world do you want to leave to your children, to your grand-children, and to future generations?

Another of the “seven themes” of CST is “Care for God’s Creation.” Pope Francis spoke to this theme in his encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home” (Laudato Sí), addressed to “every person living on this planet,” for we all share a common home. The Pope spoke about the environment, the dangers of climate change, and the ecological crisis. He states,

Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. (Laudato Sí, no. 25)

We are all connected through a web of relationships. As Pope Francis states,

Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society. (id., no. 91)

Pope Francis speaks to the ecological crisis, calling each of us to a profound interior conversion to renew and transform our relationships with God, with others, and with our created world. The Pope states,

Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone” (id., no. 93).

God created the world and entrusted it to us as a gift. We are responsible to be good stewards to care for and to protect it and all people who are born of God’s creation, including future generations. As the Pope states,

Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture. (id., no. 43)

Because of excessive use of natural, non-renewable re-sources by wealthy nations, the poor have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, pollution, deforestation, deteriorating ecosystems, lack of clean water, hunger, economic exploitation, increased health hazards, and other detrimental effects. The rights of the poor can no longer be ignored.

When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. (id., no. 117)

Will we hear and respond with love and positive action to what the Pope is saying?

VIDEOS

"The Care for the World" (Short Video with Pope Francis)

"CST 101 Care for God's Creation"

"Care for God's Creation" (Pax Christi)

"Catholic Social Teaching: Care for God's Creation"

"Catholic Sisters: Champions of Sustainable Development"

"Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Laudato Si'" (Fr. James Martin)

"Breaking Down the Pope's Encyclical Laudato Si'"

"Preview of Understanding Laudato Si'" (14 Part Series) (Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM)

"Understanding Laudato Si': 'Models of Creation'" (Episode 1) (Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM)

"Laudato Si'" (The Vatican)

"Laudato Si' - An Urgent Appeal for Action"

"Franciscan Explains Laudato Si'"

"Care for God's Creation"

"Laudato Si'" (Fr. Robert Sirico)

"Global Warming 101" (National Geographic)

"A Brief History of Global Warming" (Bloomberg Business)

MUSIC

"Canticle of the Sun"

"Blest Are They"

"Breathe"

OTHER RESOURCES

"On Care for Our Common Home" ( Laudato Sí) (Pope Francis)

"Renewing the Earth" (USCCB)

"Care for Creation" (USCCB)

"CST 101 Care for God's Creation" (USCCB)

"Environment" (USCCB)

"Laudato Si' - Our Common Home and the Effects of Climate Change" (CRS)

Series on "Francis: The Environmental Encyclical" (National Catholic Reporter)

"An Overview of Laudato Si'" (The Jesuit Post)

"Laudato Sí — On the Care of Our Common Home" (Catholic Apostolic Center)

"Laudato Si': A Summary of Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment" (Focus on Campus)

"Laudato Si' Summary and Action Steps" (Catholic Climate Covenant Org)

"Laudato Si': A Section-by-Section Summary of Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment" (Acton Institute)

"Other Resources on Catholic Social Teaching"

REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE

What are you doing to learn more about the ecological crisis facing our world today so that you can respond appropriately as a good steward of God’s creation entrusted to you?

We encourage and invite you to spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.

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