Whenever a natural disaster takes place in a part of the world its ripple effect is immediately felt in other parts of the world or some time later. Natural disasters that rip through one country have negative impacts on the entire world based on the fact that this vast world is the common home of all people.
This is reminiscent of what is termed as global warming. With global warming, it is said that over the past 50 years, the average global temperatures have increased at the fastest rate in recorded history.
Another current natural phenomenon that is having an adverse society on world is the Amazon fires and deforestation in the Amazon which increased dramatically. The findings indicate that deforestation-related fires were associated with a significant negative impact on public health in the Amazon region and the entire world.
Pope Francis rang the alarm bell having been aware of the fact that the fast deterioration in nature is very serious and that it ought to be reversed. He consequently established September 1 every year as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for "Our Common Home".
This World Day of Prayer falls at the beginning of the Season of Creation, which runs until 4 October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.
This day was inspired by Pope Francis' landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ that calls on "every person living on this planet" to care for our shared Earth.
The Pope called for celebrating this opportune moment to “reaffirm personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which He has entrusted to our care, and to implore His help for the protection of creation, as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
In his message from the Vatican on September 1, 2019, the Pope said, "This is the season for letting our prayer be inspired anew by closeness to nature, which spontaneously leads us to give thanks to God the Creator… It is also a season to reflect on our lifestyles, and how our daily decisions about food, consumption, transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods, can often be thoughtless and harmful. Too many of us act like tyrants with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles! Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, towards forms of clean energy and a sustainable and circular economy. Let us also learn to listen to indigenous peoples, whose age-old wisdom can teach us how to live in a better relationship with the environment.''
As we mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September 1, we pray a Christian prayer in union with creation by 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.
