St. Francis of Assisi helps us to see that an integral ecology … take us to the heart of what it is to be human. Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise.
—Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, no. 11
Ten years ago, when I first read the above words, Pope Francis had just published his encyclical letter, Laudato Si’. I wept. It spoke to my heart and confirmed what has always been part of our Franciscan Spirituality. Our Jesuit Pope, named Francis, incorporated the Canticle of Brother Sun into the official teaching of the Church. It is as if the Umbrian song and poem composed 800 years ago by the poor man of Assisi was written for us today.
In his letter, Pope Francis warns that “If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder and fail to speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, and ruthless exploiters unable to set limits to our immediate needs.” (Laudato Si’, no. 11) As we can see, such a path is leading us towards environmental disaster.
Yet the Holy Father states that we can set limits, experience ‘ecological conversion,’ and change our relationship with Mother Earth. “Small yet strong in the love of God, like St. Francis of Assisi, all of us, as Christians, are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live and all its peoples.” (Joy of the Gospel, No. 216)
A Franciscan Earth Care Initiative was established as a province ministry in 2018 to help implement the teachings of Laudato Si’. It works to support both friars and those who minister with us. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform, subsequently developed by the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, helps in setting goals. We find this action plan to be of great help for parishes, schools, our retreat and formation centers.
Here are just a few examples of the Earth Care efforts among the friars:
- Many of our friaries and ministries continue to install solar panels while instituting energy-saving measures to help curb our dependence on fossil fuels.
- Laudato Si’ committees have sprung up in a number of ministry settings to give direction and to help set environmental policies.
- Several of our schools and parishes in the Louisville area are establishing community gardens and promoting the proper stewardship of water and soil.
- A tree planting program has been established in Mount Saint Francis, Indiana, along with an annual tree give-away in the Spring and an “Earth Care Sunday” in the Fall.
- Two of our retreat houses have planted meadows while reducing the size of their lawns.
- Parish committees are joining with diocesan networks and other ecological groups in advocating for environmental legislation.
- Our friars in Central America and on the border are ministering to climate change refugees.
- Faith formation programs are including Earth literacy into their curriculums for youth and adults.
- The Diocese of Lexington is working to become carbon neutral by 2030.
- More friars are integrating environmental awareness into their liturgical celebrations and preaching.
- Some friars participate in public witness protests calling for government action on behalf of the climate.
These are only the beginning. There is so much more we need to do. One friar shared with me his understanding of his vow of poverty: “to live with less rather than the best”. And yet another who uses as his motto: “Living simply so that others may simply live”. Laudato Si’ indeed calls us to cherish our common home: to show mercy and walk humbly with our Creator God! (cf. Micah 6:8)
