The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to listen and care for our common home. The “Celebration” begins on September 1st, World Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends on October 4th, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
The theme for Season of Creation this year is To hope and act with Creation, and the symbol is The firstfruits of hope, inspired by Romans 8:19-25. The biblical image pictures the Earth as a Mother, groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8:22). Saint Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth
as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used. “Creation is groaning” (Rom 8:22) because of our selfishness and our unsustainable actions that harm her. Along with our Sister, Mother Earth, creatures of all kinds, including humans, cry out because of our destructive actions causing climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and human suffering as well
as Creations suffering.
And yet Creation teaches us that hope is present in the waiting, in the expectation for a better future (cf. Rom 8:20-21). To hope in biblical context does not mean standing still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amidst the struggles. Creation and all of us are called to worship the Creator, working together for a future of active hope and action. Only when we work together with Creation can the firstfruits of hope be born. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life is coming forth.
Click here to read an in-depth theological explanation for this year’s theme and symbol.
As we prepare for this year’s Season of Creation we invite you to read Pope Francis’ message,
by clicking the button below.
You can also watch the invitation created by the organizers of Season of Creation,
ecumenical Faith Leaders from around the world.
Text taken from the resource “Invitation to join the Season of Creation” available on SeasonOfCreation.org.