The cry of the earth
800 years ago in the year 1225 St Francis of Assisi composed the Canticle of the Creatures, his song of praise to God for the power, wonder and beauty of creation. Francis was simply echoing the joy of his Master extolling the birds of the air and the lilies of the field ‘who neither toil nor spin yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these’ (Mt 6:28). Jesus also said ‘that not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing it’ (Lk 12:6-7) which should give some pause for thought to those who relentlessly plunder but never conserve nature’s bounty.
The late Bernard Lonergan SJ once remarked that ‘the church always arrives on the scene a little breathless and a little late’ and while a rude awakening for the earth and its inhabitants in the wake of exploitation and greed of the earth and its creatures is daily more apparent the church is now firmly committed to redressing its past neglect of God’s great gift of creation for each generation to enjoy.
Whether we see or experience the changing often destructive weather patterns that are making the world less comfortable or safe for human existence, or hear of the suffering of indigenous peoples and the pillaging of their native habitats or watch on videos the despair of creatures like orangutangs helplessly pounding their great fists on the vast machines that are destroying their forest homes and the now silenced sounds of the thousands of species pursued to extinction, it is beyond time to hear the cry of the earth. Those who preach ‘drill baby drill’ and who boast of not caring of what happens to the world after their own time on earth is ended must be challenged and brought to account.
Pope Leo XIV has now advanced the Church’s mission in that regard in different ways and on the liturgical front with the publication of the new Mass for the Care of Creation. It’s closing prayer reflecting the wonder of St Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, should be our own each day, that:
‘while we await the new heavens and the new earth, we may learn to live in harmony with all creatures.’
(from ‘Prayer after Communion’ of the Mass for the care of Creation)
Paul Clayton-Lea
Editor
For readers on Twitter you can follow this magazine @IntercomJournal. Check Intercom Magazine out on Facebook for the latest updates. Give your feedback on content as well as what you would like to see included in future features! I look forward to hearing from you.
Official Jubilee page on CatholicBishops.ie.