Laudato Si’ summarized

By Angeli Francis S. Rivera

Fast Facts

Proponent: Pope Francis

Level of Teaching Authority: Pastoral

Key Social Teachings: Human Dignity, Solidarity, Common Good, Universal Destination of Good, and Integral Care for all Creation

Audience: All Peoples of Goodwill [encyclios (Latin) circular]

Laudato Si’ is an encyclical letter on integral ecology - or the responsible care for God’s creation, which covers the natural environment and its stewards (human beings). It was given during the Solemnity of the Pentecost in 2015. The title, which was taken from the first two words of the encylical, is inspired by a line from St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures: “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us.” Laudato Si’ is categorized as a social encyclical for all peoples of goodwill, thanks to its ecumenical, interreligious, and intercultural tone and construction. The encyclical’s impact was felt when Pope Francis addressed the world leaders a few moments before the historic United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on September 25, 2015. Laudato Si’ and UNSDG have been inseparable ever since, especially when the UNSDG agenda, adopted by more than 150 world leaders, entered into force on January 2016.

What makes Laudato Si’ popular? The encyclical is divided into six chapters, and since it was primarily written in the language of natural law, anyone can finish it in one sitting. On a general note, Laudato Si’ follows the See, Judge/Discern, Act Methodology, or the Catholic pastoral process/cycle of reading, interpreting, and responding to social justice issues. The key insights per chapter are outlined below:

Chapter

Title Summary Step in the Pastoral Cycle

I What is Happening to Our Common Home

A reading into the current environmental crisis and related problems such as pollution and climate change, water, loss of biodiversity, global inequality, and weak responses from the international political sectors.

See

II The Gospel of Creation

A reading of the environmental issues in light of the faith, beginning from the gift and responsibility of stewardship and the interconnectedness and harmony of all forms of life in Jesus.

III The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis

A deepening of the primary cause of the ecological crisis: stewardship that turned into anthropocentrism. The authority of stewardship hails from responsibility. Hence, human beings are authorized to care for the earth and fellow human beings according to the principles of the common good and the universal destination of goods. To use the resources of the earth and fellow human beings as means to an end is an outright abuse of the gifts of intellect and will.

IV Integral Ecology

A deepening on the primary effect of modern anthropocentrism: ethical and cultural degradation. To use the earth’s resources lavishly without thinking of its outcome to the poorest of the poor, the ecosystem, and the succeeding inhabitants is an outright injustice. All life forms are interconnected. The exploitation of the earth, regardless of the scale, affects everyone.

V Lines of Approach and Action

Calls for worldwide ecological movements from the civil society and religious groups and enforceable international agreements and conventions by the international and local authorities are mentioned, with particular attention to balancing priorities. Progress and development must not only benefit the political and economic sectors. If social and cultural sectors continue to be neglected, then integral human development is at risk.

VI Ecological Education and Spirituality

Changes in the mindset must accompany external changes. This lifestyle can be done through ecological education and spiritual conversion. Quality of life is not measured by what one has but what one chooses to be. Christians are especially called to metanoia, or a change in mindset, attitude, and behavior, according to what he/she is expected to be - a responsible steward who cares for the earth in the way God does. Through the covenant between humanity and the environment, a responsible steward reflects Christ evermore. We become free when we are responsible. The more we magnify God on earth, the more we become true to our nature and calling.

Laudato Si’s key teachings reverberate all the more in the present political, economic, and socio-cultural environments. It has become “prophetic” during the Covid19 pandemic. In the Philippines, especially in the Metro alone, the shortage of food and medical supplies and the increasing number of deaths sparked a metanoia - to refocus on what is essential to human flourishing: a deeper relationship with God and fellow human beings and respect for all forms of life.

Notes:

A copy of Laudato Si’ is available at the Vatican Archive (website: www.vatican.va).

If you want your community to join the Laudato Si’ ecological movement, you may sign up at www.laudatosimovement.org. TP

Holy Spirit: The Lord, the Giver of Life

By Rev. Fr. Abe P. Arganiosa HSP, Parochial Vicar

ON MAY 28, 2023, our Holy Spirit Parish of B.F. Homes, Q.C. shall celebrate its Fiesta. As faithful Catholics, we joyfully prepare for this grace-filled event through 9 days of Novena Masses, which will culminate in a Solemn Mass, which our Bishop-Emeritus, the Most Rev. Antonio Tobias, D.D., shall preside. He will bestow the Sacrament of Confirmation to more than 20 of our youth, and our Parish Administrator will lead the renewal of our ministries and apostolates for all members and officers of the parish.

We are so blessed that our patron saint is God Himself – The Holy Spirit – the third Person of the Holy Trinity. For this reason, our feast coincides with the Solemnity of Pentecost – the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary (cf. Acts 1:14, 2:1-13). It is, therefore, imperative for us to study and reflect more on the Person and mission of the Holy Spirit so that we can deepen our knowledge of Him and, in turn, be able to love and serve Him with all our heart and strength.

Every time we recite the Nicene Creed, we proclaim “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.” What does it mean?

First, the formula of faith calling the Spirit – the Lord declares that the Holy Spirit is not a mere creature but, rather, a Divine Person. He is the Lord God: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!” (Dt 6:4). The Holy Spirit is God because He is the very Spirit of God (cf. 1 Cor 6:11). He is the Spirit of both the Father and the Son (cf. Phil 1:19; Gal 4:6; 1 Pt 1:11).

Second, the formula of faith - the Giver of Life teaches us that since the Holy Spirit is God, we owe Him our life and existence. We exist and are breathing because of the Holy Spirit. He is the source and fountain of life and is the Creator of us all.

The Sacred Scriptures clearly teach that creation is a common divine work of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit because they are one God. Thus, the divine works arising from their divine nature are common to each of them. They are all Almighty, Eternal, All-knowing, and All-Encompassing. The Bible starts with the Book of Genesis, which opens with the declaration of the active presence of the Holy Spirit in the creation of the Universe: “In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water.” (Gen 1:1-2 GNB). At the very beginning of the entire cosmos, the Holy Spirit was there touching the water and giving order to the entire material world. Thus, the faithful servant of God, Job, touchingly declares: “For the Spirit of God made me, the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive” (Job 33:4).

Moreover, the Holy Spirit is the one who sanctifies us: “…but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God”

(1 Cor 6:11). The Holy Spirit did that when we received the Sacrament of Baptism. He will also teach us all the truth: “But when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth.” (Jn 16:13). He is the source of all virtues such as wisdom, understanding, faith, and even the works of wonders such as healing and prophecies in the Church (cf. 1 Cor 12:4-11). He gave them to us in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Let us, then, open our hearts to the presence of God’s Spirit. Let us allow Him to penetrate our souls and recreate us anew by making us a new creation in Christ (cf. Ezek 11:19-20; 2 Cor 5:17-21). Let us cast out deeds of darkness and put on Christ through His Spirit working in us as the same Spirit admonishes us: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph 5:14). That light of Christ is the fire of the Spirit (cf. Acts 2:3-4).

When people open their hearts to the

From The Paraclete’s Fiesta Issue of 2015

inspiration of the Spirit, they become greater than their weaknesses and limitations. St. Peter and the apostles were ordinary fishermen, yet when they received the Holy Spirit, they became the best evangelizers of the Gospel. Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, and John Marie Vianney were old and weak, but they were able to do so much for the sanctification of souls because they were filled with the Spirit. The same will happen to each one of us if we let the Spirit take control of our life.

The Holy Bible ends with the Spirit of God inviting us: “Come! Let the one who thirsts come forward… receive the gift of life-giving water” (Rev 22:17). May we be able to respond to His call and say: “Here, I am, O Lord. I come to do Your will.”

May God the Father bless us with His Spirit.

Happy Fiesta to us all! TP