God’s will called the world into existence
(Blessed Paolo Manna)

God creator of the world

From the book of Revelation and the Psalms

“Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”
(Rev 4:11)

“How varied are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.”
(Ps 104:24)

From the Magisterium of the Catholic Church

“The Holy Church of Rome strongly believes, confesses and proclaims that the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the creator of all things visible and invisible. God’s goodness made all creatures, spiritual and carnal”. (XVII Council of Florence [1438-144], Decree for the Jacobites [1442])

“The Most Provident Lord, in His secret and loving designs, willed that, in its very first years, Our priestly mission should be oriented toward the furthering of this [missionary] cause.” (John XXIII, Encyclical letter on the Missions, Native Clergy, and Lay Participation, Princeps Pastorum, 2)

“God’s love for us is fundamental for our lives, and it raises important questions about who God is and who we are.” (Benedict XVI, Enyclical Letter on Christian Love, Deus Caritas Est, 2)

“Creation is the foundation of ‘all God’s saving plans,’ the ‘beginning of the history of salvation’ that culminates in Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 280)

“We believe that God created the world according to his wisdom. It is not the product of any necessity whatever, nor of blind fate or chance. We believe that it proceeds from God’s free will; he wanted to make his creatures share in his being, wisdom and goodness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 295)

From the writings of Blessed Father Paolo Manna

“Can we come to a knowledge of God? By considering creation, man can come to the knowledge of God. A knowledge, however, which is imperfect and inadequate. From the work to the Artificer, from order to the Orderer, from effects to the First Cause, from motion to the Prime Mover, from the law of consciousness to the Lawgiver”. (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Napoli 1977, p. 14)

“The world is not necessary; it may not even be. God made it emerge from nothingness. The world, as real as it is, is a shadow of being before the reality of God, and as great as it is, it is like nothingness.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Napoli 1977, p. 15)

“Faith reveals to us a wonderful mystery. God is the fullness of being, an ocean of perfections and life. All life comes from God. (...) God is Father, the principle of all divine life in the Holy Trinity.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Napoli 1977, p. 20)

“Good is diffusive by its very nature. This divine life that the Father communicates to the only Son, and with the Son, to their common Spirit, God decrees to participate it outside of himself to other creatures, raising them from the natural order to the supernatural order as his children.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Napoli 1977, p. 21)

Questions for reflection

• The last time I looked at the world and nature, did I notice God’s presence and praise Him for it?
• How often do I thank God for the sunshine, rain, air, vegetation, flowers, meadows, etc.?
• What is my environmental awareness? To what extent do I respect the created world entrusted to us by God? Do I take care of it?
• Do I pay attention to water and light consumption every day? Do I respect plants and animals?

PRAYER

Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honour, and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs. […]

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.