Today is the feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature. St Francis choose to leave a life of wealth and prosperity and came to see every part of creation, every creature, plant, element and person as his family. He understood that we are all interconnected and interdependent, that what affects one part of creation affects the whole of creation.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis invites us to adopt the same mindset to our common home and all those with whom we share it, especially the poor and the forgotten. The feast of St Francis offers us a moment to reflect on our behaviour and attitudes, and to re-commit ourselves to preserving and protecting God’s gift of creation for each other, and for those who come after us.
When we pay attention,
the Earth will teach us to understand harmony and balance, give and take.
When we pay attention,
we will be inspired again by the audacious hope of all green things.
When we pay attention,
we will understand God's steadiness, constancy in change and the mysteries of becoming.
When we pay attention,
we will marvel at God's unseen order – the interconnection of all living things.
When we pay attention,
we will know others to be our brothers and sisters, children of one common home
Let us pay attention to the earth and pray:
God of all Creation,
through your goodness you have given us the Earth as our home.
We are grateful for all the wonders of the world which so clearly proclaim your glory.
Teach us how to pay attention that we might learn from the natural world.
Teach us how to care for each other as we care for creation.
We ask these things through the intercession of Francis of Assisi
and in the name of your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
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