Praise be to you, my Lord,
for our sister mother earth,
which sustains and governs us
and produces various fruits with colorful flowers and herbs.
Canticle of the Creatures, St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi wrote the Canticle of the Creatures shortly before his death, around 1223-1224: a praise to all beings on Earth, animate and inanimate, because he understood that Creation in its totality is an expression of God’s generous love.
All things that exist are a sign and revelation of the Lord: creation has an intrinsic value, its own, just for having been created by God. St. Francis celebrated in canticle the sun, the moon and the stars, the fire with which he danced and the earth that sustained him. He expressed the deep connection he felt with the whole created world by choosing the words “brother” and “sister” when naming each being.
This inordinate love for all the creatures of the planet turned his figure into a reference for environmental movements, as well as a patron saint of veterinarians and professionals of forests and woodlands.
St. Francis and his devotion to Creation inspired the Pope to write the encyclical “Laudato Si'”, which takes its name from the first words of the Canticle of the Creatures. In the text, he addresses every person on the planet, proposing a dialogue on the urgent challenge of protecting our common home, because it concerns and impacts us all.
We can all collaborate as God’s instruments for the care of creation, each one from his or her own culture, experience, initiatives and abilities.
The love of St. Francis for all creatures and the Pope’s concern for the collective responsibility to care for our common home are the foundations of the Time of Creation; a period that closes today, October 4, with the feast dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. During these days, the worldwide Catholic community joined the ecumenical family to protect our common home, and to commit ourselves in prayer and action.
Joining the Pope’s invitation to participate in the care of creation, we share the following excerpts from the Chapter Document “Born Again”, which reflect the commitment of the Vedruna Family to the care of the planet and the promotion of a spirituality that integrates ecology and social justice.
