Care for Creation ─ A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth

If we are blowing our Franciscan horn here, it should have been blown much earlier and much louder! This is the wisdom that our world so desires and needs today. We can no longer see ourselves as separate from the 'great chain of being,' and we can no longer see this as a non-religious issue. Francis intuited all of this 800 years ago. ?Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Three of the greatest minds in Franciscan theology, Ilia Delio, O.S.F., Franciscan Keith Douglass Warner, O.F.M., and Pamela Wood, come together to discuss one of the greatest crises of our time?the destruction of the Earth. This book takes both a theological and practical approach to developing a Franciscan spirituality of the earth. Four sections highlight the distinct relationships creation has with the world: incarnation, community, contemplation and conversion. In this meticulously researched book, the authors propose ways in which we can all understand our own roles in relationship to the Earth and ways in which we can make it better.

Each section offers reflective action opportunities designed to bring the book's ecological and theological insights into the reader's daily life and nurture a Franciscan spirituality of the earth. Prayers, meditations, spiritual practices and group activities are offered which provide a practical hands-on approach to reconnecting with the earth and acting in right relationship.

"Earth, with all its creatures, is in crisis. And responding to this crisis will require every possible resource of our human community. One of the most precious of these resources is the Franciscan tradition. It is a joy to welcome this book as a wise, thoughtful, inspiring and practical contribution to ecological theology, grounded in ancient Christian tradition that sees Earth as our sister and mother. Care for Creation is part of a wider retrieval of Franciscan theology for our new time, but is unique in this blend of three interrelated disciplines, scientifically informed ecology, theology and the practice of reflective action." ?From the Foreword by Denis Edwards

ILIA DELIO, O.S.F., is professor and chair of spirituality studies at the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. She wrote Franciscan Prayer, The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective, Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love, Crucified Love: Bonaventure’s Mysticism of the Crucified Christ and Simply Bonaventure: An Introduction to His Life, Thought and Writings. KEITH DOUGLASS WARNER, o.f.m., is a lecturer and researcher at Santa Clara University (California), where he teaches in the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Institute. He studies sustainable agriculture and environmental policy and teaches about the greening of religion and the value of biodiversity. He wrote Agroecology in Action: Extending Alternative Agriculture through Social Networks. PAMELA WOOD is an art therapist, spiritual director and retreat facilitator in Portland, Oregon. She develops experiential activities to help individuals and groups deepen their faith and take action on behalf of creation.