A quick summary
In paragraphs 7-12, there are two important themes Bartholomew mentions that Francis will continue to develop: Firstly, Our “contribution...to the disfigurement and destruction of creation.” He considers this to be part of our sins against creation, against ourselves, and against God.(LS 8) Secondly, he draws our attention to the “ethical, spiritual roots of the environmental problems”. This focus, he believes, will help us deal with (more than just) the symptoms, and will inspire us to be transformed, to “replace our greed with generosity...our wastefulness with sharing ” etc... Such a spiritual focus can only free us to love creation more completely and be more engaged with the interaction between humans and the divine which takes place “in the slightest detail...of the garment of God’s creation” ( LS 9)
In paragraphs 10-12, Pope Francis turns to the figure he believes can inspire our Church to transform Her relation to creation: St Francis, the example “par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically.” (LS 10) Through his self giving, his mysticism, simplicity and harmony with all creation, “he shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” He also helps us go to the heart of what it is to be human by transcending the more secular, scientific language we use around creation, and focus more on the communion we have with it. (LS11) Pope Francis believes this attitude is essential to any efforts to move past the current relationship we have to the land (master, exploiters, consumers). Of course this shift will not be easy, but the challenge will be there for us to see the world not as “a problem to be solved, (but)... a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise.” (LS12)
Today's entry will come from Ramana Konantz, the other founder of this blog. Ramana is a Lecturer of Art at Colorado Mesa University as well as the Director for RCIA at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She's a true academic in that she actually gets excited about doing research!
If there is one thing that Pope Francis will be remembered for years and years from now, it will be the effect he had on people outside of the Roman Catholic Church. The number of times a friend or acquaintance will make some comment to me about how 'silly' Catholics are and then follow up with "But not that Pope Francis, he's pretty cool!" astounds me. In this letter (because that's what an encyclical is, though it's pretty long for correspondence) Pope Francis is reminding Catholics, and others, that the world is a gift that was given not just to a few, but to all. Francis is explicit about this when he reminds Catholics that we are a bit behind the curve here: "Outside the Catholic Church, other Churches and Christian communities-and other religions as well-have expressed deep concern and offered valuable reflections on issues which all of us find disturbing." (LS7) Francis is aware that steps have been taken across the world to care better for the gift of creation and reminds us of the fact that Catholics are not alone!
Pope Francis' joy in God's creation is such that he cannot conceive of a limited creation. He cannot talk about creation without including all of God's children, whether they recognize God or not. This is especially important because both Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew (of the Eastern Orthodox Church) know that we must initiate "a change of humanity; otherwise we would be dealing merely with symptoms." (LS9) The Catholic Church cannot care for creation in isolation, it must build bridges with other groups, reminding all of humanity that creation, the world, is something we all participate in, something we must all care for.
This fact, that Catholics must work with the wider interfaith, ecumenical, and cultural world, is equally important as Pope Francis' call to care for the environment. We don't have to do this alone and we don't have to reinvent the wheel. There are groups out there already doing things to help the environment. Pope Francis calls us into dialogue with everyone because humanity is part of God's creation.
And as Catholics, we are called to love all of God's creation: "Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise." (LS12)
-Ramana
I love that Ramana mentioned how Francis is keen on recognizing and celebrating the role of other Churches and groups. Even this 'day of prayer for the ecology' is of course not his own inspiration, but something that existed in the Orthodox tradition. What is fitting though, is that the Anglican Church also followed Francis' lead to make September 1st a day of prayer for the earth (https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2015/08/church-joins-pope-francis-in-worldwide-call-to-prayer-for-the-environment.aspx) ... this is what creating a spirit of solidarity really is: Joining each other in prayer, working together to labor for a better world.
ReplyDelete-Brother Dan
Another powerful aspect of this passage reminds me that, much of the objections some of the more 'conservative' Catholics have had to this document around the world is actually rooted in their discomfort around this notion that 'we have sinned' against the earth. Bartholmew and Francis are unequivocal about that, but they also as Ramana reminded us, propose a change in humanity. I like this a lot. We can’t expect humanity to change on their own. Even if there is logic and reason to convince us of the need to change, there will always be some counter logic to disprove or challenge this logic. So, let’s approach change from an ethical point of view, which does not care about ‘logic’ science, or reason, but about what is better, or best for all. And still, the 'Capitalist Catholics' will throw logic and reason at this, and come up with a million excuses as to why it's implausible. Despite that reaction, as we've been saying, the openness to this line of thinking even comes form some secular circles, so there is much cause for hope that this document will continue to challenge, and inspire hearts and minds!
ReplyDelete