Today is the second annual World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, and today Pope Francis announced that Care for Creation is being added as corporal and spiritual acts of mercy.
As a spiritual work of mercy, care for our common home calls for a “grateful contemplation of God’s world” (Laudato Si’, 214) which “allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us” (ibid., 85). As a corporal work of mercy, care for our common home requires “simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness” and “makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world” (ibid., 230-31).
–Pope Francis Message for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation September 1, 2016
Pope Francis’ complete announcement and more stories in the links below.
Pope Francis with Catholicos Karekin II, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church
@Servizio Fotografico – L’Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis proposes a new work of mercy: Caring for the common home (Rome Reports)
A Prayer for the Earth – by Pope Francis from Laudato Si’ (Steve Klaper & Br. Al Mascia OFM)
LINKS
Presentation of Pope Francis’ Message of Day of Prayer for Creation (Vatican Radio)
Francis asks Christians to add new works of mercy in push for climate change action (NCR)
Resources for Laudato Si’: Care for Our Common Home (Mount LaVerna Fraternity)
Season of Creation marks month of eco-contemplation for Christians (NCR)
5 tips for living this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (Aleteia)
