“Evil books will be abundant on earth and the sprits of darkness will spread everywhere a universal slackening of all that concerns the service of God. They will have great power over Nature: there will be churches built to serve these spirits. People will be transported from one place to another by these evil spirits, even priests, for they will not have been guided by the good spirit of the Gospel which is a spirit of humility, charity and zeal for the glory of God. Our Lady of La Salette 19 Sept. 1846 (Published by Mélanie 1879)
The following is a Pastoral Message from Bishop Philip to the priests and
people of the Diocese of Portsmouth following the recent publication of
Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si and the first World Day of Prayer for
the Care of Creation on 1
st September 2015.
My dear Missionary Disciples,
Earlier this summer, Pope Francis published an encyclical letter Laudato Si on
the care of the earth. Mother Earth “now cries out to us because of the harm
we have inflicted upon her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods
with which God had endowed her” (1). Moreover, in a fresh initiative these
last days, the Pope has instituted an annual World Day of Prayer, every 1st
September, for the care of creation. In view of the publication of the
encyclical and this first World Day of Prayer, I wish to say a few words about
Laudato Si and to place our Diocese of Portsmouth on ‘Environmental Alert.’
Citing the magisterium of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI yet developing
their thought, Laudato Si is arguably one of the most challenging papal
encyclicals of recent times. It teaches with force that environmental concern is
intrinsic to the Church’s moral teaching. It develops an incisive critique of
consumer-culture and the pursuit of affluence - “today’s self-centred culture
of instant gratification” (162) – and rejects unbridled technological solutions,
a technology severed from ethics, as gravely damaging to creation and to the
human person. The “human environment and the natural environment
deteriorate together” (48). It also urges everyone to action, governments and
individuals, before it is too late, for “our common home is falling into serious
disrepair” (61). In a word, Laudato Si urges us to change our life-styles, to
treat nature with respect, to adopt an integral ecology (as shown by St.
Francis of Assisi) and to live more simply and without wastefulness.
Laudato Si is a long document. Yet it is easy to follow, and its central
message, about recognising Mother Earth as our common home, is direct. It
is a classic expression of Pope Francis' thought, style and preaching, with
frequent hyperbole and memorable turns of phrase. I encourage everyone in
the Diocese to read it and to study it over the coming months, perhaps a few
paragraphs a day. It would make an excellent document to discuss in a parish
Justice, Peace and Social Responsibility group.
The encyclical has six chapters. In the Introduction and Chapter One (1-60),
the Holy Father addresses the current ecological crisis and how the earth is “beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth” (21). Chapter
Two (62-100) offers an ecological theology based on Scripture and the
Church’s Tradition and teaching. Chapter Three (101-136) addresses the
causes of the ecological crisis: human sinfulness, a false “way of
understanding human life and activity” (101). Chapter Four (137-162) maps
out elements for a sound ecology that would integrate environmental,
economic, social and cultural dimensions. Chapter Five (163-201) lauds the
achievements of the ecological movement, yet calls for renewed dialogue
within the international community to develop a global plan. Chapter Six
(202-246) explores educational, life-style and spiritual issues.
Pope Francis concludes Laudato Si with reference to the Sacraments and the
wonder of human bodilyness, to the interrelationship of creation as mirroring
the Blessed Trinity, to the promise one day of a new heaven and a new earth,
and to the powerful prayer and example of Mary, the Queen of all Creation.
There is much to reflect on in Laudato Si and more than a brief summary can
do justice to. We should read it for ourselves. But how might we respond to it
as a Diocese? The Diocese of Portsmouth, of course, is a complex and varied
reality, comprising individual disciples and groups, the practising and not yet
practising, families and single households, clergy and laity, men and women
consecrated/religious and their communities, parishes and schools, as well as
Framework and curial teams. Each of us will need to formulate a response.
But as your Bishop, I would like to respond on all our behalf by placing our
Diocese of Portsmouth on ‘Environmental Alert.’ This Environmental Alert will
affect (1) the way we think, (2) the way we act, and (3) the way we pray.
First, the Environmental Alert means that everyone in the Diocese should
acquire a renewed awareness of environmental and ecological issues as they
impact upon Mother Earth and upon human society, at home locally and
abroad. By studying Laudato Si, in what ways can we personally, economically
and politically work towards the integral ecology the Holy Father proposes?
Could we heighten awareness of this through an occasional column in parish
or school newsletters, through mentions in local media, through the parish
Justice, Peace and Social Responsibility group or the Pastoral Area
Evangelisation Strategy Team, and through RE lessons in school? We might
consider engaging in an ecumenical effort with other Christians or with
secular campaigns to bring about real change. In this, we will find many
resources available, not least from CAFOD (www.cafod.org.uk) and from the
US Bishops Conference (www.usccb.org: enter Laudato Si).
Secondly, the Alert invites us to consider the thorny issue of a change of life- style to a more moderate and responsible level of consumption:
“A person who could afford to spend and consume more but regularly uses less heating and wears warmer clothes, shows the kind of convictions and attitudes which help to protect the environment. … avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or carpooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices. … Reusing something instead of immediately discarding it, when done for the right reasons, can be an act of love” (211).
We need to become free from an obsession with consumption in order to live
a more simple, prophetic, contemplative life-style in which ‘less is more’:
“A constant flood of new consumer goods can baffle the heart and prevent us from cherishing each thing and each moment … [Those] who enjoy more and live better each moment are those who have given up dipping here and there, always on the look-out for what they do not have. They experience what it means to appreciate each person and each thing, learning familiarity with the simplest things and how to enjoy them. So they are able to shed unsatisfied needs, reducing their obsessiveness and weariness. Even living on little, they can live a lot, above all when they cultivate other pleasures and find satisfaction in fraternal encounters, in service, in developing their gifts, in music and art, in contact with nature, in prayer” (222 - 223).
Everyone in the Diocese should consider how they might respond in practice
to the Pope’s call: individuals and groups, families and households, clergy
and laity, consecrated persons and religious communities, parishes and
schools, as well as Framework and curial teams.
And thirdly, the Environmental Alert should have an impact upon how we
pray. Many Christians, not least those from the Orthodox Churches (cf.
Laudato Si 7-9), share environmental concern; indeed, Pope Francis instituted
the new World Day of Prayer at the suggestion of Patriarch Bartholomew. It
would be good at Mass to incorporate an occasional intercession to ask God’s
grace to overcome the ecological crisis, and to make this an intention for a
prayer group. We could offer the Rosary, especially the Third Joyful Mystery,
the Incarnation, and the Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of Mary. Or
read meditatively Chapters 1-3 of the Book of Genesis. In Eucharistic
Adoration, it would be good to praise God for the gift of creation, whilst
asking Him how I might become a better custodian of creation and the goods
He has given me. And in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we should examine
our life-styles, seeking His mercy for any sins we may have committed against
an integral ecology. Again, the annual celebration of the World Day of Prayer
in September could become for our parishes and schools a powerful moment
of prayer, reflection, conversion and the adoption of new life styles.
Pope Francis concludes Laudato Si by turning to Mary, the Mother and Queen
of all creation. So too at the end of this Pastoral Message, let us commend
ourselves, and our Diocese of Portsmouth, to her powerful intercession. Here
is part of the Holy Father’s prayer, which I now invite you to pray:
“O TRIUNE LORD, wondrous Community of Infinite Love,
teach us to contemplate You in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of You.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that You have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.
O Lord, seize us with Your power and light.
Help us to protect all life,
and to prepare for a better future,
and for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you! Amen.”
In Corde Iesu
Bishop of Portsmouth
22nd August 2015, The Memorial of Mary, Queen of All Creation.
