Mother Earth

Later this month Pope Francis will release his encyclical on the environment – on God’s creation. To celebrate this I'd like to offer a few photos for your contemplation. 

It is reported that he will use words from St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun as the opening words – “Praised be…” 

Near San Damiano, Assisi

In that Canticle, Francis praises the God of creation and addresses all that is made as his sisters and brothers – 

Brother Sun, 

Sister Moon, 

Sister Water, 

Water spigot in Assisi

Brother Fire:

Easter Fire

Brother Wind, Brother Death, and even Mother Earth.

 Living in the countryside since last December, I have often been moved by the beauty of nature:

The flowering trees:

Acacia - Arbol del fuego (fire tree)

The beautiful landscapes:

The cicadas and birds that sing outside my window:

Chiquirín - cicada

The izote and coffee bushes in flower:

Flor de izote

Coffee in bloom

Even the spider web, sparkling in the dew:

And so much more.

But I also see the devastation that humans are wreaking on Mother Earth:

Trees are being cut down to enlarge coffee farms.

Hillsides are being burnt – to provide for grazing lands or more coffee fields.

 People build with little concern for the effects on nature. Trash is just thrown wherever.

I pray that we may begin to take seriously the call to respect all creation, which is, after all, a gift of God.