-
Where were you a week ago?For the first time in my life, I was crawling out of bed to read an encyclical, Pope Francis’ much anticipated ode to ecology. Over the course of 184 pages, though, my groggy eyes refused to glaze over. This was a papal letter much different from any other — and from the one advertised.The title of the letter, "Laudato si,” like all Church documents of this type comes from the first few words of its Latin text. Translating to “praised be,” the words begin a poem from Francis’ papal namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. Before he was a garden gnome, St. Francis was a living, breathing, believing mystic, uniting a radical poverty with a God-enriched view of the world. Rarely do we have a Catholic expression that shows the best of the Church’s theological understanding with a commitment to lived action. We generally call those folks saints. Not running off the rails or pushing a political agenda, Pope Francis points to the best in our Catholic understanding of creation.Before delving into the text or the mess of its interpretation, I’ll reveal a little secret with these documents: always start at the end. I don’t mean here that procrastination-fueld book report skim of the last chapter, but a review of the endnotes. Papal documents are made within the line of Tradition, and as such, like to call upon those who have expressed teaching previously. And, boy, does Pope
Francis like to. With a 172 references (putting that at roughly one per page if my Jesuit High math hasn’t failed me), Pope Francis does something unprecedented: he peppers the text with statements from bishops conferences worldwide. South Africa, Bolivia, Germany, New Zealand, and the good ol’ US of A, all find a place in the document. Even the Canadians! Did you know that they had Catholics in Canada — and with their own bishops? Can you say post-Mass coffee and flapjacks, ehh?
This speaks to the nature of the document and the lens through which to view it: it is composed and sent with the entirety of the Church’s 1 billion plus Catholics in mind. Before we apply a strict 21st century American prism to it — especially with our Republican and Democrat political thinking — we need to take a breath and see the pope’s breadth. Rapping the knuckles of unfettered greed, a deified market, and a throwaway culture looks different from the country and culture it is received in. The pope is not speaking with his midterm election in mind; he is speaking as our pastor.And our pastor sees some problems out there.Problems he approaches from his role as pastor, teacher, theologian. As he reiterates: "There are certain environmental issues where it is not easy to achieve a broad consensus. Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics. But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good” (188). In his expression of science, global warming, et al, the pope uses the information he has been presented with, not raising them to the level of faith and morals. What is clear is that we are called to be better caretakers of creation.The bulk of the text of “Laudato si” is spent in and around the word “integrated.” Everything is connected in God’s work of creation. To this end, Francis unites agrotoxins, abortion, the Australian Bishops Conference, and Ali al-Khawa (who, of course, we all know was a 9th century Sufi mystic).I have delivered homilies that are more singularly focused. At least one.
His integrated purpose is clear from the first few pages. " It is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet” (9).We are connected in creation and, therefore, in the movement towards a more complete stewardship of life. As the pope makes clear:It is essential to seek comprehensive solutions which consider the interactions within natural systems themselves and with social systems. We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature (139).
Pope Francis here tries to take our decisions to their logical conclusions; we can’t be supportive of just certain aspects of creation. As humans we are stewards of all, leading the pope to link life issue’s to the environment:When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. Once the human being declares independence from reality and behaves with absolute dominion, the very foundations of our life begin to crumble, for “instead of carrying out his role as a cooper- ator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature (117).
The notion of progress, therefore, receives a restructuring here. Cheaper, faster, bigger are great descriptives, but, as he notes, "A technological and economic development which does not leave in its wake a better world and an integrally higher quality of life cannot be considered progress.” (194). Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s “Caritas in veritate,” Francis reminds, “Purchasing is always a moral – and not simply economic – act” (206).So there’s a lot here in Laudato si. A whole lot, like “Laudato si-s everything” lot.I encourage you to consider reading the document — not in a morning sitting, unless you have more coffee than the rectory has. More than anything, though, to familiarize yourself with its overarching message, which the links below can help with. Pope Francis is doing a little more (and less) than various commentators have offered.
[Some less than precise images]
In the end we are called to recognize the gift of our creation and in turn called to conversion — about as tried and true a message as we have.
Laudato si - Official Vatican Text
Ten Things in Laudato Si You Won’t Hear About From the Media -
Ryan Mayer, Epic Pew
Editorial: Care for Our Home –
Editorial Board, OSV Newsweekly
Prayer for Creation at the Conclusion of "Laudato si":
Father, we praise you with all your creatures. They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!Triune Lord,
wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference,that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live. The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life,to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you!
Amen.