English translation of the Mass "for the care of Creation"

MASS FOR THE CARE OF CREATION

DECREE

on the formulary and Biblical readings

for the Mass for the Care of Creation 

“Let Your works praise You, that we may love You; and let us love You, that Your works may praise You (Augustine, Confessions, 13,33; PL 32) 

The mystery of creation is the beginning of salvation history, which culminates in Christ and from the mystery of Christ it receives definitive light; in fact, by manifesting His goodness, “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1,1) God already from these origins had in mind the glory of the new creation in Christ. 

Sacred Scripture exhorts humankind to contemplate the mystery of creation and to give endless thanks to the Holy Trinity for this sign of His benevolence, which, like a precious treasure, is to be loved, cherished and simultaneously advanced, as well as handed down from generation to generation. 

At this time it is evident that the work of creation is seriously threatened because of the irresponsible use and abuse of the goods God has endowed to our care (cf. Laudato si’ n. 2). 

This is why it is considered appropriate to add a Mass formulary “pro custodia creationis” to the Missae “pro variis necessitatibus vel ad diversa” of the Roman Missal. 

In the Eucharist “The world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration: in the bread of the Eucharist, ‘creation is projected towards divinization, towards the holy wedding feast, towards unification with the Creator himself’ (Benedict XVI, Homily for the Mass of Corpus Domini, 15 June 2006). Thus, the Eucharist is also a source of light and motivation for our concerns for the environment, directing us to be stewards of all creation” (Laudato si’ n. 236). 

The Supreme Pontiff LEO XIV approved this formulary along with appropriate biblical readings, drawn up in Latin and attached to this Decree, and ordered that they be disseminated, and now the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments promulgates it and declares it to be the typical text. 

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding. 

From the Dicastery for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 8 June 2025, Solemnity of Pentecost. 

Arthur Card. Roche

Prefect 

+ Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M.

Archbishop Secretary

Below is the English text of the formulary provided by the said Dicastery
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Entrance Antiphon

Ps 18, 2

The heavens declare the Glory of God,

and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.

Cæli enárrant glóriam Dei,

et ópera mánuum eius annúntiat firmaméntum.

COLLECT

God our Father,

who in Christ, the firstborn of all creation,

called all things into being,

grant, we pray, that docile to the life-giving breath of your Spirit, 

we may lovingly care for

the work of your hands.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Pater,

qui in Christo, primogénito omnis creatúræ,

univérsa ad exsisténtiam vocásti,

præsta, quǽsumus, ut, dóciles Spíritus tui spiráculo vitæ,

ópera mánuum tuárum in caritáte custodiámus.

Per Dominum.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Reading from the Old Testament

Wis 13, 1-9 [Lectionary 495; Week 32; Year 1; Friday]

If they are capable of investigating the world, how have they been so slow to find its Master?

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 18, 2-3. 4-5 [Lectionary 495; Week 32; Year 1; Friday]

R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

Or: 

Ps 103, 1-2a. 5-6 10 et 12. 24 et 35c [Lectionary 329; Week 5; Year 1; Monday]

R. (31b) May the Lord rejoice in his works!

Reading from the New Testament

Col 1, 15-20 [Lectionary 435; Week 32; Year 1; Friday]

All things were created through him and for him

Alleluia

Ps 103, 24

How great are your works, O Lord!

 In wisdom you have made them all

Or:

1 Chr 29, 11d. 12b 

Yours, LORD, are greatness and might,

and you have dominion over all.

Gospel

Mt 6, 24-34 [Lectionary 82; 8th Sunday; Proper of the Season; Year A]

Do not worry about tomorrow

Or:

Mt 8, 23-27 [Lectionary 378; Week 13; Year 1; Tuesday]

He stood up and rebuked the winds and the seas; and all was calm again

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Receive, O Father,

these fruits of the earth and of our hands:

bring to completion in them the work of your creation,

so that, transformed by the Holy Spirit,

they may be for us the food and drink of eternal life.

Through Christ our Lord.

Súscipe, Pater,

hos fructus terræ nostrarúmque mánuum:

pérfice in eis opus creatiónis tuæ

ut, a Spíritu Sancto transformáti,

cibus et potus vitæ ætérnæ pro nobis fiant.

Qui vivit.

Communion Antiphon 

Ps 97, 3

 

All the ends of the earth have seen 

the salvation of our God.

Vidérunt omnes términi terræ

salutáre Dei nostri.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

May the sacrament of unity

which we have received, O Father,

increase communion with you and with our brothers and sisters,

so that, as we await the new heavens and the new earth,

we may learn to live in harmony with all creatures.

Through Christ our Lord.

Sacraméntum unitátis quod accépimus, Pater,

communiónem tecum áugeat fratribúsque

ut, novos cælos et terram novam exspectántes,

conveniénter una cum ómnibus creatúris vívere discámus.

Per Christum.

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The Missa pro custodia creationis is included in the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia

(2008) among the Missæ et Orationes pro variis necessitatibus vel ad diversa, section two Pro

circumstantiis publicis. Its use is regulated by chapter VII of the Institutio Generalis Missalis

Romani and by its own rubrics (Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, p. 1074).