EUROPE/ITALY - Message for Thanksgiving Day in Italy 2007: "When man changes what is a gift for all into a possession for a few this is an act of theft not only against men and peoples but first of all against the true owner of the earth, the Lord Himself. He created the earth and consigned it to men and women of every time and place”

Friday, 21 September 2007

Roma (Agenzia Fides) - “When man changes what is a gift for all into a possession for a few this is an act of theft not only against men and peoples but first of all against the true owner of the earth, the Lord Himself. He created the earth and consigned it to men and women of every time and place”: this is part of a Message from the Italian Bishops for Thanksgiving Day in Italy 11 November. The message was prepared by the Italian Bishops' commission for social and labour questions and justice and peace.
The message underlines that respect for the environment and authentic development go hand in hand. “The work of safeguarding and rendering perfect creation tends in fact to prefigure that fullness of life to which God calls all mankind: a “new humanity” whose law is love and whose model is Christ, the firstborn of all creation”. Citing Pope Benedict XVI's message for World Day for Peace 2007, where he says “a reductive vision of man leads to negative consequences also for the protection of the natural world”, the message underlines “to safeguard the integrity of the human person, his bond with God and creation, means rejecting all inhuman concepts of development. It is clear that the solution of the ecological crisis, giving new impulse to the development of peoples and therefore to the future of the planet are entrusted first of all, not international laws and agreements however wise and farsighted, but to the transformation of consciences illuminated by precise moral principles, a premise for the elaboration of rules, laws and agreements. If the ecological crisis is caused by a mistaken mentality, wrong style of life, we must develop a new mentality, a new attitude towards the environment.”
“We must have the courage to promote life styles, models of production and consumption based on respect for creation and the real demands of sustainable progress - the Message encourages -, to rediscover sobriety, which eradicates from the human heart the longing to possess and restores the primate of being, which leads man to use rather than abuse the earth, which teaches us to avoid all that is unnecessary, superfluous, ephemeral, which purifies our attitude and helps us realise that the environment is not a prey to be seized, but a garden to be tended.”
Thanksgiving Day is a call to all Christian communities “to thank the |Lord of heaven and earth for the rich gifts of creation”, and a call to make “a sincere examination of conscience”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2007; righe 31, parole 456)


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