While St. Francis of Assisi was declared a saint nearly 800 years ago, it was not until nearly 50 years ago that he became known as the patron of ecology. “John Paul II makes that proclamation in 1979,” explained Joshua C. Benson, associate professor of historical and systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington. “There’s greater ecological awareness on the part of people – and in looking for a patron for that, Francis became an obvious choice.” As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, here is a look at why the beloved 13th-century Italian friar became associated with creation care and how we can keep that tradition alive.
“When you look at St. Francis’ life, he shows a very deep and real care for creation,” said Father Jonathan St. Andre, a Third Order Regular Franciscan friar and vice president for Franciscan life at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. “We see that in his writings, particularly in a beautiful writing called ‘The Canticle of the Creatures’ … he talks about how all of creation praises God.” Take some time to read this beautiful poem that reinforces that “we all come from the same creator and need to care for one another.”