People bring many things to the river when they experience it. Some remember picnics and walks with loved ones. Some stand in awe of the sheer majesty of water. For many, they bring their faith, seeing a connection to God and Divine handiwork within the rolling waters.
This faith expression varies, but we can see an overall concern for connectedness and protection:
- Some see a moral duty to care for the beauty created by God.
- Some believe that the way we treat nature has consequences for how we will be treated.
- Some follow Divine commands to love and cherish the environment.
- Some revel in the beauty of nature in their holy writings.
- Some view caring for the environment as an act of worship.
- Some teach the interdependence of everything in the natural world, the need to live in harmony with nature, and to take responsibility for our actions.
- Some emphasize a ban on needless destruction, including our earth.
- Some emphasize preserving and nurturing natural resources for future generations.
- Some see Divinity in nature and revere rivers, mountains, trees, etc.
- Some incorporate caring for creation into their liturgical year, e.g., the worldwide Season of Creation from September 1 – October 4. (In 2026, the annual theme is Living Water!)
It is easy to see consistent attitudes toward the environment among faith traditions.
Regardless of one’s faith or absence of faith, many recognize St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) as a poor man of peace who treasured humans and all of nature. His focus on love, dialogue, and respect resonate widely. Some call him the patron saint of ecology, and this year, celebrate the 800th anniversary of his death.
More than a figure in a birdbath, in 1225 Francis composed one of the first poems written in an Italian dialect, the Canticle of the Creatures, not just giving thanks for creatures, but calling them brother and sister. Rather than viewing us as stewards of creation, suggesting control, Francis viewed a kinship between us, part of one family of a loving God. This perspective adds an extra layer when one gazes upon the trickling waters, the majestic trees, the jumping fish, the skittering insects, and the radiant flowers.
To celebrate this perspective, the Chicagoland Franciscan Justice Circle (CFJC) is hosting the Franciscan Friends of the Fox River Public Celebration, as part of the It’s Our Fox River Day, on September 19, 2026, 10:00 am – Noon (CT) at the North Aurora Island Park, North Aurora, IL. We will feature interfaith prayer, discussion of water issues, and a clean-up of the riverbank. All are welcome to register by 9/12/26 at Franciscan Friends of the Fox River or
Regardless of how we view a river, through the eyes of faith, the feelings of our hearts, or both, may we all take a moment to marvel at its beauty and resolve to protect it and the life that surrounds it.
