By Christina Bagaglio Slentz
SAN DIEGO — The Vatican announced in July the addition of a new formulary for a “Mass for the Care of Creation” to the Roman Missal — Missa pro Custodia Creationis.
What does this addition entail? Don’t we already celebrate a Mass during the Season of Creation? Why was a “formulary” for the Care of Creation needed? (Understandably, you might be wondering, what is a formulary?) And how might you expect to participate in such a Mass?
Various needs and occasions
This new Mass for the Care of Creation is classified within a group of about 50 Masses known as “Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions.” The General Instruction of the Roman Missal explains that, because “almost every event in life is sanctified by the divine grace that flows from the Paschal Mystery, and because the Eucharist is the Sacrament of Sacraments,” it is fitting to allow for Mass formularies particular to “various occasions of Christian life for the needs of the whole world or for the needs of the Church.”
These special formularies are developed using select Scripture passages and theological language relating to the specified need or occasion. They include key parts of the Mass, such as the Entrance Antiphon, the Collect, and the Prayer After Communion. Examples of these Masses include “For Vocations to Holy Orders or Religious Life,” “For Reconciliation,” “For the Blessing of Human Labor,” and “For Refugees and Exiles.”
But how does this differ from our annual Season of Creation Mass? Up until now, all language used during those Masses has been the language that would have been used for any Mass on that day. Our hymns, decorations, and the blessing for those participating in Creation Care ministry provided context for our celebration, but the formulary did not distinguish the Mass in any particular way.
Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viloa, OFM, Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, offered an explanation. The new formulary for the Mass for the Care of Creation “receives some of the principal themes contained in ‘Laudato Si’ and expresses them in the form of prayer,” which is found throughout the liturgy. For instance, the entrance antiphon draws from Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims works of his hands.” The prayer after communion asks that, “We may learn to live in harmony with all creatures.”
Another distinction is when this Mass may be celebrated. Masses for Various Needs and Occasions are generally to be used on weekdays; however, in cases of “grave need” or “pastoral advantage,” the diocesan bishop may permit celebration on any day with the exception of solemnities, Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, and a few other special occasions.
Bringing peace and reconciliation
On July 9, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass for the Care of Creation outside at the Borgo “Laudato Si” Centre, recognizing the surrounding beauty as “a kind of ‘natural cathedral.’” His homily, which you can find if you scan the green QR code, underscores the great need for prayer and the ecological conversion of those “both inside and outside the Church, who still do not recognize the urgency of caring for our common home.” Leo points to Jesus’ calming the storm as a sign of hope and argues our mission to care for creation ultimately aims to bring peace and reconciliation to the world.
The upcoming Season of Creation, Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, will offer ample opportunity to join in this mission. Go to bit.ly/SDCCPage to see upcoming events. We especially welcome all to our Season of Creation Mass, 4:30 p.m. at The Immaculata on Sept. 20. For information and registration, go to bit.ly/SOC25Mass.
