There is nothing new in the ‘Care of Creation’ Mass
We need a human ecology, a relational environmentalism, a Catholic way of being 'green.' This Mass for the Care of Creation is a gift, not something to fear.
(LifeSiteNews) — A new set of texts and prayers has been added to the “civil needs” section of the “Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions” in the Roman Missal. Contrary to the claims of some who attacked the move in print and on social media, there is nothing new here.
The entrance antiphon is an excerpt from Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims works of his hands.” The Collect asks the Lord to help us be “docile to the life-giving breath of your Spirit, we may lovingly care for the work of your hands.”
The prayer after Communion asks the Lord to draw us into a deeper communion with Him so that “as we await the new heavens and the new earth, we may learn to live in harmony with all creatures.”
There is a huge difference between the emerging neo-pantheism being adopted in some sectors of the “climate change” movement and the wonderful Catholic teaching on our responsibility, as stewards, for the gift of creation.
The Catholic Church has been “green” for a lot longer than any modern environmental movement or “climate change” concern. But, of course, in the correct way. The Catholic Church has taught that we are called to what is a relational environmentalism. And to embrace of our stewardship of the gift of creation.
After all, God is the Creator. He has called us to embrace our stewardship with the earth which He made and entrusted to us as a gift. He calls us to care for the gift and to share it.
Some leaders of the current “green” movement and those promoting a wrong kind of fear over changes in the climate have lost their way, especially in their pro-abortion extremism. They are doing a serious disservice to all.
One obvious example of this is the inherent contradiction of worrying about polluting the atmosphere with toxic chemicals and at the same time supporting making toxic chemicals available to be ingested by mothers in order to kill the children in their womb.
We need an ancient but ever new way of being green, a Catholic way. (...)