What is Laudato Si’?

The first words of Laudato Si’ are Italian and translate as “praise be to you.” 

Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Pope Francis published in May 2015. It focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the Earth. 

Importance of this Encyclical

This encyclical is pivotal in redefining and rebuilding our relationship with each other and our common home. 

It calls for a spiritual and cultural conversion to realise integral ecology. 

In our response to that conversion, we realise that “living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue.” (LS 216). 

Action is needed. 

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration that calls us together each year to pray and respond jointly to the cry of Creation.

The “Celebration” begins on September 1st, the Feast of Creation, and concludes on October 4, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi - the patron saint of ecology.

This year the theme “Hope and Act with Creation” and the symbol “The first-fruits of hope”, inspired by Romans 8:19-25, will be our guiding inspiration. The following ideas act as a guide, in your preparation and participation during the Season of Creation. Let us unite as one community to care for our common home! 

In an era where the delicate balance between human activities and the health of our planet is becoming increasingly evident, the need for sustainable practices has never been more pressing.  

Recognising the urgency of adopting environmentally conscious approaches, this guide is a practical tool for both in-house teams or external providers to create a successful and sustainable event, rooted in the principles of responsible resource management, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility.

 A resource created by Emmy Silvius to promote creation spirituality.

The resource is available here.

Ann Henry has prepared a resource to raise consciousness in order to shop for the planet. The action is an initiative of the Council for Integral Ecology.