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SOMETHING TO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THIS WEEK
Be like St Francis of Assisi
The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated each year on the 4th of October. It marks the end of the Season of Creation and invites us to celebrate the patron saint of ecology. St Francis was a mystic who, ‘faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness’ (Laudato Si’, 12).
Aware of just how deeply interconnected everything is, St. Francis had a deep grasp of what we today call integral ecology. Just as Jesus spent much time in nature, contemplating the sparrows (Luke 12:6) and the tiniest of seeds (Luke 17:5), so St. Francis also lived in complete harmony with creation. He showed us that care for creation is inseparable from concern for one another, justice for the poor and our own interior peace. Seeing that everything is connected, and living out this vision joyfully and with an open heart, St. Francis was - and is - deeply loved. He takes us to the heart of what it is to be human, and invites us to a profound interior conversion: ‘Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever Francis would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise’ (Laudato Si’, 11).
We are called into this awareness so that we repair our broken relationship with the natural world and with each other. We are called to turn away from destruction and, feeling intimately connected to all that exists, to care more deeply for our common home.
Tríona Doherty and Jane Mellett, The Sacred Heart Messenger, October 2021
We remember at this time...
Each of us is created in God’s image regardless of our beliefs, backgrounds, or circumstances. The Church upholds the inherent dignity of every human person, affirming that each of us is equal in God’s eyes. Let us remember to welcome migrants and those seeking refuge into our communities. God has told us that when we welcome the stranger we could be welcoming angels.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it”. Hebrews 13:2
Sacred Space – Daily Prayer for 25 Years
Sacred Space began in 1999 and has offered new content every day since then. You can learn more about Sacred Space on our About page, or if you are a regular, you can share your Sacred Space Story on our Feedback page. For our 25th anniversary, we are featuring stories from people for whom Sacred Space has played a special part in their lives. Please consider sharing your Sacred Space Story.
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