In his prayer for September, Pope Francis returns to one of his central preoccupations: the threat to our environment and to the people affected by that threat, writes Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
September is also the month in which many Christians celebrate the Season of Creation, beginning on September 1 and concluding on the feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4.
Pope Francis’ prayer echoes the themes of his reflections on the environment in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum.
He emphasises the cry of an earth threatened and wounded by global warming, insisting that this is not a natural phenomenon but the result of human exploitation of the environment in the pursuit of profit.
As he focuses on human responsibility for the threat to the world and to human beings – especially to the poor who bear the burden of global warming – he stresses the corresponding human responsibility to care for the world.
Though the technological developments that have helped create the crisis can also be part of its healing, a change of heart and of human behaviour will also be needed.
When we take to heart a wounded world and wounded people, we will naturally want to heal the wounds.
Calling for just such a change of direction, Pope Francis says we should pay attention to the hurt suffered by our environment and allow it to touch our hearts. It must become personal.
If we see it as something that affects only the natural world and not us, we will ignore it.
The Season of Creation, its focus on St Francis of Assisi, reminds us of what a blessing it is to take delight in the environment of which we are part.
When we take it personally – when we really take it to heart – the Season of Creation is a time for celebration and gratitude as well as solicitude.
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Taking the Season of Creation to heart (By Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ, Melbourne Catholic)
