Every year, especially since the publication of the Encyclical Letter Laudato si', the first day of September is, for the Christian family, a World Day of Prayer for the Safeguarding of Creation, with which the Time of Creation begins, ending on October 4 in memory of St. Francis of Assisi.
During this period, Christians throughout the world renew their faith in God the Creator and unite in a special way in prayer and action for the safeguarding of the common home.
1. A time to remember
A time of grace to remember the original vocation of creation to be and thrive as a community of love. We exist only through relationships: with God the Creator, with our brothers and sisters as members of a common family, and with all the creatures who live in the same house as we do. Everything is connected, and as human beings we are all united as brothers and sisters in a wonderful pilgrimage, intertwined in the love that God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us, with tender affection, to brother sun, sister moon, sister river and mother earth.
2. A time to return
A time to go back and repent. We have broken our ties to the Creator, to other human beings and to the rest of creation. We need to restore these destroyed relationships, which are essential to sustaining ourselves and the whole fabric of life. The Jubilee is a time of return to God, our beloved Creator. We cannot live in harmony with creation without being at peace with the Creator, the source and origin of all things.
3. A time to repair
A time to repair the original harmony of creation and to cleanse compromised human relationships. It calls for the restoration of equitable social relations, restoring to each person his or her freedom and possessions, and writing off the debts of others. Therefore, we should not forget the history of the exploitation of the South of the planet, which has caused an enormous ecological debt, due mainly to the plundering of resources and the excessive use of the common environmental space for the elimination of waste. The Jubilee is the time for restorative justice. It is also necessary to repair the earth. The restoration of a climatic balance is very important, given that we are in an emergency situation. The restoration of biodiversity is also crucial in the unprecedented context of species extinction and ecosystem degradation. It is necessary to support the UN call to safeguard the 30% of the Earth as protected habitat by 2030.
4. A time to rejoice
The Jubilee is a joyful event, inaugurated by the sound of a trumpet that resounds throughout the world. We know that the cry of the Earth and the poor has become even louder in recent years. At the same time, we are witnesses to how the Holy Spirit is inspiring individuals and communities everywhere to unite to rebuild the common house and defend the most vulnerable. We are witnessing the gradual emergence of a great mobilization of people who, at the grassroots and in the peripheries, are working generously for the protection of the land and the poor. It brings joy to see so many young people and communities, especially indigenous ones, on the front line in responding to the ecological crisis. They are calling for an Earth Jubilee and a new beginning, aware that "things can change". It is also gratifying to see how the Special Year of Laudato's Birthday so' inspires many initiatives at the local and global level for the care of the common home and the poor. This year should lead to long-term operational programs to achieve integral ecology in families, parishes, dioceses, religious orders, schools, universities, health care, businesses, farms and in many other areas.
Happy celebration under the infinite grace of God the Creator!
