Stella Maris Parish recently issued the following announcement.

”Now ask the beasts to teach you, the birds of the air to tell you; or speak to the earth to instruct you and the fish of the sea to inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of God has done this? In his hand is the soul of every living thing and the life of all mortal flesh.” (Job 12:7-10)

October 4 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In Laudato Si′, Pope Francis calls St. Francis the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology. St. Francis was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving and his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. To him, each and every creature was a sister or brother united to him by bonds of affection. This is why he felt called to care for all that exists. If we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety and care will well up spontaneously. Our attitudes will be less of master and consumer and more of awe, respect and wonder for our environment with the ability to set limits on our immediate needs.

Only prayer, the Spirit of God breathing in us, dwelling in our hearts and joining us to Christ, can lead us, like Francis, to the contemplative vision of God’s goodness in every creature and in every living thing. In honor of St. Francis, the Creation Care Mission team encourages you to pray and contemplate your own steps in embracing St. Francis’ vision.

Original source can be found here.