“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”
St. Louise de Marillac
Celebrating the Season of Creation: September 1-October 4
By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern
In his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, the late Pope Francis expressed, “The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely.” This landmark document, the first papal encyclical dedicated to care for the environment, called for people of all faiths to respond to the urgent threats facing our planet.
September 1 marks the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, first established in 1989 by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and later embraced by Pope Francis for annual observance in the Catholic Church. The day also begins the Season of Creation, a global time of prayer and action lasting until the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4.
Led by a variety of Christian organizations, the Season of Creation promotes care for the Earth through prayer and action. This year’s theme, “Peace with Creation,” is rooted in Isaiah 32:14-18. In these Biblical verses, Isaiah imagines Creation without peace —a broken relationship between God and humanity that leads to wastelands and fallen cities. He reminds us that injustice and disregard for Creation harm both people and the Earth. The Season of Creation calls us to seek peace by restoring justice and healing our common home.
Originally, the celebration served as a time of prayer and contemplation for the Earth. More recently, Christians have been mobilized to act. The global steering committee for the Season of Creation encourages many activities during the month-long celebration. These include engaging in local clean-ups, tree planting for reforestation, recycling initiatives, outdoor worship, contemplative walks and pilgrimages, and community gardens for sustainable food practices.
The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, together with EarthConnection, have created a daily calendar of prayer and action steps. This resource invites us to reflect on our relationship with Earth and to take small, meaningful steps toward recognizing the interconnectedness of all Creation.
The Season of Creation challenges us to build healthy connections with our common home and to live out Isaiah’s vision of peace that we may restore justice, foster care, and build harmony with our common home.
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