Awaken in ourselves and those around us an ecological awareness
“Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans ‘I want it all and I want it now!’ and ‘Too much is never enough’, gains the upper hand”, “Sin leads man to consider himself the god of creation”, exhorts Pope Francis in his message for this year's Lent, with the title “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rm 8: 19).
In his message, the Pontiff highlights that “Creation urgently needs the revelation of the children of God, who have been made a new creation”. In this regard, he indicates that “When we live as children of God”, “and capable of acknowledging and obeying God’s law, beginning with the law written on our hearts and in nature, we also benefit creation by cooperating in its redemption”.
In this way, also the fifth call of the XXII General Chapter, encourages to the reflection when it asks “awaken in ourselves and those around us an ecological awareness that engages us in caring for ‘our common home’”, in response to emerging needs.
During his reflection for Lent, Pope Francis expresses that “when we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbours and other creatures. Intemperance then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by our human condition and nature itself”.
With respect to “the destructive power of sin”, Pope Francis mentions that “rupture of communion with God likewise undermines our harmonious relationship with the environment in which we are called to live, so that the garden has become a wilderness”.
In relation to “The healing power of repentance and forgiveness”, the Pope reminds us that “The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery”.
Finally, the Vicar of Christ encourages the faithful “to embody the paschal mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving”.
Considering the proposal of the Pope for this Lent and the call of the last General Chapter, it would be interesting to take advantage of this time of preparation for the Easter of the Lord, in order that each Marist institution develops an action that symbolizes their will, as institution to take care of our Common House. We will publish on this website and in our newsletter, the initiatives that you share with us.
Read the full message of the Pope: English | Español | Français | Português.