Article 18

Moreover they should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which bear the imprint of the Most High, and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship.

"We need to look no further than the writings of Francis to recognize the great importance he placed on the care of creation. In the Canticle of Brother Sun he rightfully called the elements his brothers and sisters. We have a Scriptural mandate to care for all of creation from Genesis when God told Adam to have dominion over the earth. Note the Scriptures say dominion not domination; our human history over the past 20 centuries and longer bears witness to our domination! Francis points out another basic reason for our care of creation, each bears the imprint of the Most High. In his Itinerarium, St. Bonaventure tells us that we are blind deaf and dumb if we are not awakened to the presence of God in our midst through his created world."

Source: F.U.N. Formation text: "The Rule of the SFO – 3-23-2011 Page 40 of 46"

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7-13-2012