Mass for Creation

In Paul Turner's Blog by Paul Turner

Q:  Please advise options for celebrating a Mass with creation (World Environment Day – Seasons of Creation) as its focus, which I appreciate is always the Paschal Mystery .

I note that Eucharistic Prayer IV has various creations references to creation (as do other EP’s). I think Preface # 4 in ordinary Time also has creation references.

There does not seem to be a collect, Prayer over the Gifts, Prayer after communion – what are options here? Do you know of people exploring the possibilities for a more focused ‘creation-centred’ Mass?

In Australia the Roman Missal has various prayers for natural disasters.

I would love one day to submit a eucharistic Prayer/Mass of creation = to whom? has it been done before? what about past centuries?

I am curious about the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Orthodox churches?

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A:  You’re right that there is no Mass for Creation among the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions. Depending on the circumstances, you could use At the Beginning of the Civil Year, At Seedtime, After the Harvest, or For Giving Thanks to God. A conference of bishops or even a diocese could propose a mass for Creation, but that would have to be approved directly from the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

I’m not well versed in the Eastern Rites, but my impression is that they offer nothing further. You would probably find inspiration from some of the prayers composed in non-Catholic Christian churches, where the freedoms for composing liturgical texts are greater.