There is a video on the Care for Creation from Pope Francis. It can be viewed at the Pope Francis playlist at the OFSGB You Tube channel , and also at The Pope Video.
The Pope asks us all to join him in prayer and as your presence in the world minister I’m posting this video to encourage us all. It’s short and simple. Just 1m25s
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
In 2015 Pope Francis designated September 1st as the World day of prayer for Care of Creation. My wish is to promote this day as an Annual event, in a Franciscan Spirit with a novena leading up to it.
I would like each region to consider using the attached novena as a basis for promoting this day. It is designed with scope for adaption to suit any fraternity.
(In Norwich we are actually doing an activity on Sept 3rd, the closest Saturday, by meeting at Walsingham for midday Mass and walking the holy mile, having a picnic and either going for a dog walk or a day at the beach at Wells next the sea, to celebrate creation. We are blessed to have Walsingham close enough! I will also be inviting others to join us as its a world day not just a Franciscan day. By others I mean the parishes, Cafod groups, and the East Anglian Region.)
I want to and ask the presence in the world minister in each region to consider doing something with or without the guidance I supply.
Suggestions that have been given for things to do are a day/evening of prayer, day trip/pilgrimage, or an action day such as a litter picking session, something that makes a notable day to enjoy the glory of God’s Creation.
Novena for the Care of Creation, through St Francis of Assisi.
Day 1.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it all.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of conflict. The destruction caused by war and fighting brings us all great pain and sorrow. We pray for cessation of all battles that this beautiful world may be at peace.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 2.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of greed and corruption. The damage caused by those who are working for their own profit is harmful to the rest of us. We pray that your love and mercy enlightens their hearts that they may see what damage their greed is causing both to the people and to this beautiful world.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 3.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of poverty and disease. We pray that the wealth of this world is able to be shared with all the needy and not kept by the few. We ask that health may be a priority in all areas of this beautiful world. We pray for all those affected by sickness, physical, mental and emotional including such things as the current pandemic viruses.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 4.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of human abuse. We hear of domestic abuse and disharmony, abortion, child abuse, prostitution, and slavery in our news and it seems to many that this is an acceptable way of life. We pray that this attitude will change and be replaced by a love for You and all that You have created so that the sanctity of life is seen and respected for the great gift it is. We also pray for all who are affected by drug, alcohol, or substance abuse of any kind that their addiction may be treated humanely and that they are not abandoned by their communities.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 5.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of pollution and habitat destruction. Help us to see that we cannot continue to take from this earth without repairing the damage. Parts of our world have been destroyed for our demand for fuel, food and luxuries. We pray that the destruction of this world will cease and that the rain forest which supplies so much of the clean air we breathe and gives a home to so many creatures is able to recover from the damage we humans have caused.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 6.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is subject to the natural disasters that cause much sorrow. The famine and loss of life saddens us all. We hear of earthquakes, storms, and gales, there is so much news of flooding, and the destruction caused by fire. We pray for all who are or have been affected by the damage caused by these events. We pray for those suffering loss in any way, of a loved one, their livelihood, their property.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 7.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of persecution. We pray especially for those persecuted for their faith. Give them the courage to remain strong in their certainty that You will be with them at all times. We pray that the perpetrators of this persecution may be inspired by the faith of those who are suffering for their faith to change their own hearts. We also pray for all those displaced by war and refugees of all kinds that they may find a home for themselves and their families.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 8.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world that is so full of abuse of animals; we have destroyed their habitat, and killed animals for our own greed and pleasure. Animal breeds have been brought to extinction through our destruction of their homes and our demand for luxuries. Peoples want for entertainment has bred animals for fighting; poaching for ivory and things such as rhino horn for questionable medicine has caused much injury and death. We pray that this greed may cease and that animals can live in their own habitats without human intervention.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Day 9. World Day for Prayer for Care of Creation.
Saint Francis, you loved all of creation and praised God for it.
Teach us how to look after this world. This is a beautiful world that we live on. Let us all thank God for it and pray that we can always enjoy the wonder of it. Help us all to have respect of life. You gave us all we needed to live and although we have mistreated it this earth can still be a place of beauty and of Your evolving love.
In the words of St Francis we say:
The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, all good Lord, all praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day through whom You give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour, of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and fair and stormy, all weather’s moods, by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, by You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will, no second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility.
Pause
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.