May 28. Laudato Si week.   Saturday theme: Ecological Spirituality.  Festival at Assisi.  Reflect, share, act and pray.   Assisi will always be associated with St Francis, the 12th century saint, who Pope Francis continually uses as his patron and model for the eco-spirituality in his encyclicals, Laudato Si and social love in Fratelli Tutti.  Francis who was born and lived his short life and ministry in Assisi, which has become a centre for eco-spirituality and peace. Francis was no highly educated theologian and never became a priest.   He intensely experienced God’s love in the Incarnate and Crucified Jesus.   While travelling, preaching and teaching his growing community of friars and Claire’s community of sisters, Francis lived a life of ongoing conversion, humbly and in peace with every person and all creatures.  He came to see everything as his family, called the elements of creation by name as Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Mother Earth, also Brother wolf and Sister dove.  In his final years his love became so intense and he identified so closely with Jesus that he was gifted with the stigmata, the five wounds of Jesus on his body. His final days were filled with praise, joy and love.   His Canticle of the Creatures was composed during this time.   “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun……………     Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve him with great humility.”    

Reflect, share and act. Scripture.  Jesus said to his disciples, “You will ask in my name and I do not say to you that I shall ask the Father for you for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed. John 16:23.   Pope Francis:  The created things of this world are not free of ownership. “for they are yours, O Lord, who love the living.” This is the basis of our conviction that as part of the universe called into being by one Father all of us are linked by unseen bonds and together form a kind of universal family. LS89.   Each creature has its own purpose.   The entire material universe speaks of God’s love and boundless affection. Soil, water, mountains, everything is a caress of God. LS84.    Pray the daily Laudato Si’ prayer.