Today, 1 September, is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, inaugurated by Pope Francis eleven years ago. The day ushers in the Season of Creation, or Creationtide, which runs until 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
You can find Pope Leo’s message for this year’s Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation here:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/creation/documents/20260815-messaggio-giornata-curacreato.html
It is a time to thank God for all the beauty and fruitfulness of creation, but also to reflect on the ways humanity has damaged, and is damaging, this great gift, and to re-commit to our responsibility of caring for our common home. Every little helps, as the saying goes, so you may wish to think about one practical thing you might do to help creation over the coming weeks.
We shall be praying our Creationtide hymn (below) every day at Midday Office, so do join us in that, and pray for inspiration about what you might do on a practical level.
Today is also the first day in the new cycle of readings from the Rule of St Benedict with its powerful opening word, inviting us to ‘listen‘ with the ear of our hearts, that is, to listen deeply.
During these days of Creationtide, let us listen to the cry of the earth, to the cries of the poor, and to our own hearts’ deepest desires for unity and peace as we pray for the grace of healing and restoration at every level.
Creator God who by your Word
Have made all things upon the earth,
Grant us to cherish all your gifts
And recognise their sacred worth.
Redeeming Word, enlighten us
With truth to know how we should live.
Teach us to reverence human life
And to the needy freely give.
Consoling Spirit, visit us
With wisdom from the realms above.
May all God’s people share your peace
And journey heavenward strong in love.
Amen.
Copyright Stanbrook Abbey, 2020.
Daily reflections on the Rule of St Benedict can be found here, written by Maggie Roberts, a candidate for oblation at Stanbrook.