The Canticle of the Sun, by Francis of Assisi
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.
(translated by Bill Barrett from the Umbrian text of the Assisi codex.)
Francis of Assisi was the first born of Don Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, and his wife Donna Pica. On the day that Francis was born, his father was away and his mother was having trouble in labor. Try as she might, the baby refused to be born. Then a stranger dressed as a poor pilgrim knocked on the door of the beautiful mansion. The pilgrim had this message for Donna Pica, “Tell Donna Pica that she must leave her beautiful bedroom and go to the stable. The child can only be born there.”
Immediately, Francis’ mother was helped to the stable and it was on bundle of fresh straw where Francis was born. Francis was baptized with the name of John in the church of San Rufino a few days later. When his father returned from his journey, he renamed his son Francis, because the child’s mother was French. Francis means “the Frenchman”.
Although Francis grew up with the proper training due to a young Italian of wealthy means, he was often seen cavorting in the streets of Assisi with his friends. Francis was easy to spot, because he dressed in the colors of the rainbow topped off with a hat with a long red feather. The villagers would often remark on Francis’ late night hours of partying; wondering out loud if the young man ever slept.
One day, while Francis was in the town out merrymaking, a beggar came up to him and removed his ragged cloak and laid it before Francis’ feet. The young man from Assisi told the beggar that he had no coins to give to him. The beggar replied, “I don’t want any! I do this to honor you, for soon you will do great things which will be talked about until the end of the world.”
These prophetic words by the beggar proved to be true. Today the Franciscan Order is worldwide. Instead of wearing hats with plumed feathers and rainbow colored garb, the Franciscans dress in rough robes with a rope for a belt just as their founder did so long ago. What happened to this young man about town to change so dramatically?
Well, like most young men of his rank, Francis went off to war, but instead of returning as a hero, Francis’ high spirit seemed to have broken. During the war, he was captured and imprisoned for a year. When Francis returned home, instead of partying in the streets of Assisi, he spent his time in the fields where he was often seen praying. He even gave away his fine armor and new horse that were gifts from his father. It soon became clear that the young man who returned home from war was not the same one who had left.
While praying one day in the broken down chapel of San Damiano, Francis heard the Lord Jesus telling him to rebuild his church. Francis took the words literally and began his work of rebuilding by giving the old priest in charge of the fallen down chapel, a bag of gold. Then Francis took some of his father’s bolts of cloth and a horse and sold them and gave the money to the priest, who returned the money out of fear of Francis’ father. Francis then disappeared for over a month.
When he returned to Assisi he was dressed as a filthy beggar whereupon Francis’ father had his son locked up out of fear that he had gone mad. When Don Petro went away on business, Francis’ mother gave her son some money and set him free. Upon Don Petro’s return, he went to court to get his money back, but to no avail. Francis was then taken before the Bishop, who lived in a beautiful palace.
When the Bishop questioned Francis, Francis told him that his wish was “to serve God”. The Bishop admonished Francis for stealing from his father and told him to return to his father what belonged to him. Francis then went behind the tapestry behind the Bishop’s throne.
When he came out, he was naked. He placed his clothing and his father’s money at his father’s feet saying, “Until now I have called Pietro di Bernardone father. I am returning his money and the clothes he has given to me. From now on, I shall not say ‘Father Pietro di Bernardone,’ but ‘Our Father who is in heaven!’”
The people cheered and the Bishop covered Francis’ nakedness with his cloak. Francis was now under the protection of the Church. His new life as God’s servant had begun. Francis attracted followers with his lifestyle of poverty. His group of brothers in Christ was declared by the Pope to be an official holy order.
Not only were men followers of Francis’ rule of poverty, but women were also attracted to this man from Assisi who had given up great wealth to devote his life to God. His first female convert was a wealthy young maiden named Clare who started the order of the Poor Sisters. Francis himself cut Clare’s beautiful golden locks as a sign of her commitment to Christ.
St. Francis is known not only for his simple lifestyle, but also for his great joy and love for God and God’s creations of whom he addressed as brothers and sisters. There is a wonderful story about a wolf that was terrorizing a town. St. Francis decided to go and talk to the wolf. Addressing the wolf as Brother Wolf while making the sign of the cross, St. Francis admonished the wolf in the name of the Lord for terrorizing the townspeople.
He then made a deal with the wolf. St. Francis told the wolf that the townspeople would agree to feed the wolf as long as Brother Wolf lived if he would stop hurting them. The wolf agreed. The people fed Brother Wolf for two years until he died of old age. In all that time Brother Wolf did not attack or hurt any person or animal. At his death, the townspeople mourned his passing, because he had endeared himself to them. Such was the power of St. Francis’ gift of reconciliation. Through his ministry enemies became friends.
St. Francis not only talked to animals, he was also seen preaching to God’s creatures. On one occasion, it was recorded that St. Francis preached to a flock of birds. He told them that they were created to praise the Lord with their singing upon which the birds rose into the sky singing joyfully. For St. Francis, all of God’s creation was created to serve a purpose. No creature was insignificant to God. It is because of St. Francis’ love for all of God’s creatures and creation that we celebrate the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ in remembrance of St. Francis.
Near the end of St. Francis’ life, he had a vision of Jesus on a burning cross in the night sky. Streams of light from Jesus’ wounds touched St. Francis’ hands, feet and side. Overcome with a deep love for the Lord, St. Francis fell to the ground. St. Francis had been given the stigmata, the wounds of Christ upon his body.
Even though St. Francis carried these markings with joy, they caused his body great affliction. On his death bed, St. Francis welcomed Sister Death with singing. His body was carried through Assisi, where as a wealthy young man he had partied with his friends. Now those same streets were crowded with the people who came to say good-bye to their brother, the poor man of Assisi.
Today, as we remember the life of this dear saint, let us ask the Lord to give us a heart of love for all of God’s creatures. May we rejoice in all of God’s creation, praising Him who made us sisters and brothers through Jesus Christ our Lord. May we be witnesses of His love.
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