Pope Francis recently proclaimed September 1 as a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989, to “draw from our rich spiritual heritage the reasons which feed our passion for the care of creation.” 

This opens the Season of Caring for Creation which ends on October 4, the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi. 

As our Seraphic Founder, St. Francis gives us a model to imitate, celebrate and reflect on as the Patron of Ecology and author of the Canticle of the Creatures.  Each week there will be specific prayers, readings and reflections. 

These materials were created by Carolyn Townes, OFS, National Animator, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

Week One: September 1 – 6

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Call to Prayer:  All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Encourage us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. We thank you for being with us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Reading:  The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: “Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest”. (Laudato Si #48)

Moment of Contemplation (Take some time in silence)
“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” (Pope Francis)

Reflection Question: What is the violence I do towards the environment – in what I do and in what I fail to do?

“Cultivating and caring for creation means nurturing the world with responsibility and transforming it into a garden, a habitable place for everyone.” (Pope Francis, World Environmental Day Homily, 2013)

Prayer for the Week: All-powerful God, Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pope Francis recently proclaimed September 1 as a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989, to “draw from our rich spiritual heritage the reasons which feed our passion for the care of creation.” 

This opens the Season of Caring for Creation which ends on October 4, the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi. 

As our Seraphic Founder, St. Francis gives us a model to imitate, celebrate and reflect on as the Patron of Ecology and author of the Canticle of the Creatures.  Each week there will be specific prayers, readings and reflections. 

Week One: September 1 – 6

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Call to Prayer:  All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Encourage us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. We thank you for being with us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Reading:  The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: “Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest”. (Laudato Si #48)

Moment of Contemplation (Take some time in silence)
“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” (Pope Francis)

Reflection Question: What is the violence I do towards the environment – in what I do and in what I fail to do?

“Cultivating and caring for creation means nurturing the world with responsibility and transforming it into a garden, a habitable place for everyone.” (Pope Francis, World Environmental Day Homily, 2013)

Prayer for the Week: All-powerful God, Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pope Francis recently proclaimed September 1 as a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989, to “draw from our rich spiritual heritage the reasons which feed our passion for the care of creation.” 

This opens the Season of Caring for Creation which ends on October 4, the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi. 

As our Seraphic Founder, St. Francis gives us a model to imitate, celebrate and reflect on as the Patron of Ecology and author of the Canticle of the Creatures.  Each week there will be specific prayers, readings and reflections. 

Week One: September 1 – 6

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Call to Prayer:  All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Encourage us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. We thank you for being with us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Reading:  The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: “Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest”. (Laudato Si #48)

Moment of Contemplation (Take some time in silence)
“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” (Pope Francis)

Reflection Question: What is the violence I do towards the environment – in what I do and in what I fail to do?

“Cultivating and caring for creation means nurturing the world with responsibility and transforming it into a garden, a habitable place for everyone.” (Pope Francis, World Environmental Day Homily, 2013)

Prayer for the Week: All-powerful God, Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pope Francis recently proclaimed September 1 as a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989, to “draw from our rich spiritual heritage the reasons which feed our passion for the care of creation.” 

This opens the Season of Caring for Creation which ends on October 4, the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi. 

As our Seraphic Founder, St. Francis gives us a model to imitate, celebrate and reflect on as the Patron of Ecology and author of the Canticle of the Creatures.  Each week there will be specific prayers, readings and reflections. 

Week One: September 1 – 6

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Call to Prayer:  All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Encourage us in our struggle for justice, love and peace. We thank you for being with us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Reading:  The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: “Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest”. (Laudato Si #48)

Moment of Contemplation (Take some time in silence)
“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” (Pope Francis)

Reflection Question: What is the violence I do towards the environment – in what I do and in what I fail to do?

“Cultivating and caring for creation means nurturing the world with responsibility and transforming it into a garden, a habitable place for everyone.” (Pope Francis, World Environmental Day Homily, 2013)

Prayer for the Week: All-powerful God, Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.