Cosmic covenant:
a catholic theology of creation
In Cosmic Covenant: A Catholic Theology of Creation, Matthew Ramage addresses a growing unease among faithful Catholics who cherish the beauty of the natural world yet feel alienated by much of contemporary environmental discourse. Against claims that Catholicism is indifferent—or even hostile—to ecological responsibility, Ramage shows that care for creation is not a modern add-on but a constitutive dimension of the Catholic faith. Drawing deeply from Scripture, the witness of the saints, and the teachings of recent popes, Ramage demonstrates that the created world is God’s ‘other book’: an epiphany of divine wisdom and a realm entrusted to humanity’s loving stewardship. Far from competing with revelation, creation illuminates it, inviting believers to rediscover their vocation to “till and keep” the garden of the Lord.
At the heart of this book lies the Church’s distinctive vision of a cosmic covenant that binds God, humanity, and all creatures in a communion of love centered on Christ and shaped by the paschal mystery. Engaging especially the ecological thought of Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, Ramage offers a compelling alternative to both secular environmentalism and Christian disengagement. Richly theological yet pastorally grounded, Ramage articulates a Christocentric ecology that honors human dignity while embracing the interconnectedness of all creation. Readers will find here not only a robust theological framework but also practical guidance for integrating care for creation into the pursuit of holiness in everyday life.
reviews
“Matthew Ramage’s new book on the theology of creation and its cosmic, covenantal significance establishes once again his preeminence as the leading voice for a Catholic environmentalism in the world today. Drawing heavily from the writings of the postconciliar popes, especially Benedict XVI and Francis, he deftly outlines the need for a Christian anthropological vision in order to counteract the many antihuman polemics of what passes for modern ‘environmentalism.’ He also demonstrates why orthodox Catholics must not dismiss the topic as outside of the scope of revelation. The intellectual expanse of this book is breathtaking and its wisdom deep. I cannot recommend it more highly.”
– larry chapp, ph.d.
Retired professor of theology, DeSales University
“With Cosmic Covenant, Matthew Ramage has provided a radiant image of hope—a tapestry woven from scriptural exegesis, patristic voices, papal teachings, contemporary science, and his personal experiences inhabiting a particular corner of the earth. Ramage’s novel contribution illuminates God’s love for his creatures and the ineluctable bonds of kinship between the human person—steward and priest of creation—and his ontological siblings. This image redounds upon everything from ethics to eschatology, from the mundane query ‘Should I kill this bug?’ to the magnificent ‘What shall life be like in the world to come?’ Essential reading for our time.”
– michael d. taylor, ph.d.
Teaching fellow and dean of students, Thomas More College
“Creation stands at the heart—quite literally—of our Catholic faith. We can thank Ramage for a brilliant and learned exposition of this doctrine and its implications for life. In dialogue with theological lodestars like Thomas Aquinas and Joseph Ratzinger and many others, he effectively captures the deep roots of Catholic concern for our common home. In so doing, Ramage shows that such concern—rather than a partisan imposition—is part and parcel of the evangelizing mission of the Church.”
– lucas briola, ph.d.
Associate professor of theology, Saint Vincent College