World Day of
Prayer for Creation

We have 50 ‘Masses for Various Needs and Occasions’ in the Roman Missal, covering a vast array of themes with tailored formularies and lectionary readings, which can be celebrated on different occasions throughout the year. The new ‘Mass for the Care of Creation’ falls in that category of the Missal. See the decree of the Dicastery for Divine Worship promulgating the new Mass. Its use is regulated by chapter VII of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

Laudato Si’ is a teaching document that informs our theological reflection (“Lex Credendi”, what we believe) and ethical choices (“Lex Vivendi”, how we live). Yet, equally important is our liturgical life (“Lex Orandi”, what we pray). In fact, a famous liturgical axiom postulates that the three dimensions (liturgy, theology, ethics) are deeply interrelated by stating: “Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi” – the law of prayer is the law of belief, which becomes the law of living. In other words, our attention (or lack of attention) to creation in our liturgical life influences what we believe and how we behave. That said, up till now, we had no way of expressing liturgically the themes of Laudato Si’ and of celebrating liturgically the World Day of Prayer. While we were able to celebrate the September observance with devotional prayers and ecumenical services, we were missing the opportunity to celebrate it eucharistically, around the altar, the “source” and “summit” of the Christian life (Sacrosanctum Concilium 10).

It is worth acknowledging that creation is not a new liturgical ‘theme’; it is always present in liturgy (Laudato Si’ 235-237, Desiderio Desideravi 42-46), even if unnoticed by most people. For example, every Mass is grounded in the “fruit of the earth… and the work of human hands”. However, to the richness that the Liturgy already contains, this specific Mass acts as a magnifying glass for our times. In this Mass we don’t just celebrate creation implicitly or merely reflect on the gift of creation; we celebrate it explicitly, with tailored lectionary readings and liturgical prayers. Moreover, the lectionary of the new Mass features the famous hymn of Colossians 1 which brings our attention to Christ’s role in the creation of the world, enriching our celebration of “the whole mystery of Christ” throughout the liturgical year (Sacrosanctum Concilium 102), as we previously did not have any celebration bringing attention to this foundational mystery. Ultimately, this Eucharistic celebration sustains and gives meaning to our relationship with creation, offering us the strength to heal our broken bonds with Christ and the Holy Trinity, our neighbors, fellow creatures, and the earth.

Any priest may celebrate this Mass on September 1st (a Tuesday in 2026), the traditional date of the World Day of Prayer, or during the day on the subsequent Saturday (September 5 in 2026), frequently chosen for pastoral convenience. With the consent or instruction of the local bishop, it may also be celebrated on Sunday (September 6 this year), permissible in cases “of pastoral advantage” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 374) to be discerned by the bishop, who holds the ultimate authority for decisions like this; note some additional considerations about a Sunday celebration.

The Mass resources above are specifically for the Roman rite, since the new Mass was an innovation for the Roman Missal.

For Eastern Catholic churches following the Byzantine rite, September 1 is a liturgical feast with rich creation-related symbolism in its liturgical prayers. Moreover, a Vespers service of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was composed for the September 1 observance; it might be worth inquiring about its suitability in your church context.

For Eastern Catholic churches following other rites, it is worth inquiring with the Middle East Council of Churches since they have an active role in ecumenical conversations about the liturgical celebrations of September 1. You can also ask your own church synod about resources available.

This new Mass is a Catholic liturgy specifically which complements nicely the ecumenical ‘prayer services’ with other churches – and even with other faiths – happening during the Season of Creation. You are warmly encouraged to continue – or begin – your ecumenical celebrations, which are crucially important as well. The novelty now is that, as Catholics, we are able to celebrate the World Day of Prayer in this very special format of ours that is a Eucharistic celebration – the “source” and “summit” of the Christian life, as Vatican II defined it (Sacrosanctum Concilium 10), and “an act of cosmic love” with profound relevance to the topic of creation care (Laudato Si’ 236). Our Catholic and ecumenical celebrations are complementary, enriching each other.

For Roman Catholics, September 1st is a ‘world day of prayer’ outside the liturgical calendar, even if we celebrate it liturgically with the new Mass. Embodying ‘unity in diversity’, on that special day we pray alongside other Christian churches who celebrate September 1st as a liturgical feast in their calendar.

These include Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, for whom September 1st is the Feast of the Indiction that opens the new liturgical year and symbolizes the creation of the world, as well as other Christian churches who celebrate this day as the “Feast of Creation in Christ” in their liturgical calendars.

Yes, absolutely. The new Mass is a flexible pastoral resource that can be celebrated at other times of the year (excluding days coinciding with liturgical solemnities, feasts, obligatory memorials, and Sundays).