Every September 1, the universal Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which opens the Season of Creation, a special period in which, together with Christians around the world, we contemplate the beauty of our Common Home and renew our commitment to care for it.
The theme that brings us together this year is “Peace with Creation.” A peace that is not only the absence of conflict, but a profound reconciliation with the earth, the rivers, the forests, and every creature that shares with us the gift of life.
The Amazon: beauty that sings and wounds that hurt
The Amazon shines like a song of the Creator:
- its rivers are veins that beat to the rhythm of life,
- its forests are lungs that breathe for the entire planet,
- its sunrises paint hope with new light,
- its indigenous peoples are wise guardians who teach us to live in harmony.
And yet, this beauty is wounded: trees falling under indiscriminate logging, waters clouded by the poison of mining, territories devastated by fires, communities ravaged by violence and indifference. The Amazon cries out like an open wound in the heart of the world.
Pray, contemplate, act
In this sacred time, the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) invites us to:
- Pray: to listen to the groaning of the earth and the cries of the poor, and allow ourselves to be touched by them.
- Contemplate: to discover that, even in the midst of wounds, creation continues to sing of hope and calls us to conversion.
- Act: to reconcile ourselves with nature, adopt simpler lifestyles, and commit ourselves to networks that defend life.
Peace that springs from the Spirit
Pope Francis reminds us that “everything is connected.” There will be no true peace as long as creation continues to be exploited as an object. Peace with creation implies justice for peoples, respect for biodiversity, and tenderness toward future generations.
In this Season of Creation, let us raise our prayer:
Lord of Life,
make us sowers of peace with creation.
May the Amazon, wounded and resilient,
sing again with clean rivers, lush forests,
and peoples living in dignity.
May we learn to reconcile ourselves with the earth,
so that your peace may flourish throughout our Common Home.
