The Feast of St Francis 2025

In 2015 Pope Francis released his encyclical “Laudato Si” – Care for our Common Home. It takes its name and inspiration from Saint Francis’ poem often called the Canticle of the Sun or Canticle of the Creatures. The title means “praise be to you”, something related through the whole of the poem.

“Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.”

“Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.”

“Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.”

The canticle/poem is a celebration of God’s creation and the ongoing creative and sustaining power of God.

Pope Francis in his powerful encyclical draws important insights from the life of St Francis that our common home, the natural world, is also like a sister, with whom we share existence and like a beautiful mother who welcomes us in her arms. In his life and action St Francis wants us to remember that we are in a relationship with creation just as we are with other human beings especially members of our family and it follows then that creation and the natural world cannot and should not be treated as an object which can simply be consumed or discarded.

There is a strong call through “Laudato Si” to recognise that the ecological crisis is both a moral and spiritual challenge, which needs a profound response of interior conversion, a renewal of our relationship with God, one another and the created world.

Creation come to us as a gift and we are to care for it and protect it and all people who are part of creation.

We are all connected – a part of the human family, the created world and also to those who will come after us – present actions affect future generations.

To care for creation means we take care of the poor who have contributed the least to climate change, yet are deeply and disproportionately impacted by it.

As one human family we are called to act together, called to solidarity and have a shared responsibility for others and for creation, to reduce our consumption and help poorer nations develop sustainably.

Technological and economic development must serve human beings and enhance human dignity, and not create an economy of exclusion deepening the gap between rich and poor.

We are called to support life and protect creation, concern for nature is incompatible with a failure to protect the vulnerable.

The time is now to act. Challenging us all to consider our lifestyle and consumption as individuals, families, communities and nations.

We hold on to hope and joy. “Injustice is not invincible” We are to hold to a vision of a renewed relationship with God, ourselves, one another and creation.

May the inspiration and spirit of St Francis help shape our relationship with creation and all God’s creatures.

When Francis preached love to the birds

They listened, fluttered, throttled up

Into the blue like a flock of words

Released for fun from his holy lips.

Then wheeled back, whirred about his head,

Pirouetted on brothers’ capes.

Danced on the wing, for sheer joy played

And sang, like images took flight.

Which was the best poem Francis made,

His argument true, his tone light.

Seamus Heaney.

 

Canon Stuart Bain