FATHER's DAY MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHER:

POPE FRANCIS:

"Saint Francis is the exemplar par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of ecology, lived out joyfully.".

"He is the bond between concerns for nature, justice for tthe poor, commitment to society and interior peace."

"The earth, our home is begining to look like an immense pile of filth...Frequently no measures are taken until people's health have been irreversibly affected."

"What is the  purpose of our life in this world? what is the goal of our work and all our efforts? Unless we struggle with these deeper questions, I do not believe that our concern for ecology will produce significant results."

"We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air, and we receive life and refreshment from her waters."

 "Now this earth, mstreated and abused is lamenting and its groans join those of all the forsaken of the world."

{ The Pope'scritics will decry these words and complain: "He should stick to religion and leave this proplem to the scientist!"

As a matter of fact, the Pope IS a scientist, having his graduate degree in chemistry. And he has gathered around hm in his Pontifical Academy of Science some of the most renowned scientists on earth!

And he is proclaiming religion when he states:"Christians realize that their duty toward nature and the Creator are an ESSENTIAL PART OF THEIR FAITH."

BUT THIS ENCYLICALIS NOT JUST ADDRESSED TO CHRISTIANS. iT IS ADDRESSED TO ALL HUMANITY AND WILL HAVE A GREAT IMPACT WORLD WIDE.}

(A ray of hope flows through the encylical:)

"Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. All is not lost. Human beings while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start."

By developing our individual God given capacities a a greater ecological conversion can inspire us to a greater creativity and enthusiam."

"Soil, water,mountains, everything as it were, a caress of God....There is mysucal meaning to befound in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dew drop, in a poor person's face."

"Climate change is a global problem with serious implications. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humaity today."

"Each year sees the disappearence of thousands of plant and animal species...which our children will never see...they are not just an exploitable resource, but have a value in and of themselves."

 In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks to the wind and the waves and they are calmed. A new storm wages in our time, and the Holy Father addresse it in his encylical. At every Mass, we pray the Our Father. Notice we pray:

"Thy will be done ON EARTH as it is inheaven..."

Pope Francis is pointing the way for God's will to be done ON EARTH by our care for our planet.

{ The encylical consists of 191 pages. The above are snippets taken from the text.) 

 The entire encylical can be read at

paxchristiusa.org