Season of Creation
1 September – 4 October
Pope Francis begins his message for this year’s Season of Creation by asking us to listen to the sweet song of creation.
We friars have promised
to seek the presence of the “Most High, all-powerful, good Lord” in prayer, in mission, in human relationships, in different cultures, and in creation.
Pope Francis then asks us to listen to the accompaniment of the sweet song of creation, sung by a chorus of anguish.
We friars have promised
to listen to the women and men of our time, to their difficulties, sufferings, and hopes, and join them in communal projects of solidarity.
Pope Francis asks us to raise our voices, not as individuals but as a community, to bring about lasting change.
We friars have promised:
to take to heart the care of the Earth as our “common home."
to embrace lifestyles that witness to a love for creation and are in harmony with projects of environmental sustainability.
to promote educational initiatives regarding “integral ecological conversion."
to divest ourselves of all things and resist a consumer mentality, which leads to accumulation and waste and thereby harms our Sister Mother Earth.
Encouraged by Pope Francis’ call for us to listen, may our living of our Gospel promises open our hearts to weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15) and respond with deeds that bring a sound of hope to the sweet song of creation.
– friar Michael Lasky OFM Conv.
(Delegate General for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation)
