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Happy St Francis Day!

As some may know, one of my favorite saints is Saint Francis of Assisi. Whilst I don't agree on all his teachings I have always admired this wealthy man turned poor Saint. 

In a time animals were mere food or inconvenience he loved animals. 
In a time of a huge gap between the rich and poor he loved and identified with the poor.
In a time of religious corruption he was a reformer before the Reformation. 
In a time where love had waxed cold he loved. 
In a time of war and crusades he stood for peace at great expense to himself.

His time is not unlike today in fact. 
His example is relevant to us. 

The Canticle of the Sun
​(Translation by Matthew Arnold)

​O most high, almighty, good Lord God, to thee belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing! To thee alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce thy Name.
​Praised be my Lord God with all his creatures, and specially our brother the sun, who brings us the day and who brings us the light; fair is he and shines with a very great splendor: O Lord, he signifies to us thee!  
​Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for the stars, the which he has set clear and lovely in heaven.  
​Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind, and for air and cloud, calms and all weather by the which thou upholdest life in all creatures.  
​Praised be my Lord for our sister water, who is very serviceable unto us and humble and precious and clean.  
​Praised be my Lord for our brother fire, through whom thou givest us light in the darkness; and he is bright and pleasant and very mighty and strong.  
​Praised be my Lord for our mother the earth, the which doth sustain us and keep us, and bringeth forth divers fruits and flowers of many colors, and grass.  
​Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon one another for his love's sake, and who endure weakness and tribulation; blessed are they who peaceably shall endure, for thou, O most Highest, shalt give them a crown.  
​Praised be my Lord for our sister, the death of the body, from which no man escapeth. Woe to him who dieth in mortal sin! Blessed are they who are found walking by thy most holy will, for the second death shall have no power to do them harm.  
​Praise ye and bless the Lord, and give thanks unto him and serve him with great humility.
 
​Source/Attribution: Written by Saint Francis of Assisi (13th Century). English translation by Matthew Arnold (d. 1888), used in the public domain.  

Il Cantico delle Creature
​(Original Text in Umbrian Dialect)

​Altissimu, onnipotente, bon Signore,
Tue so’ le laude, la gloria e l’honore et onne benedictione.
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu Te mentovare.
​Laudato sie, mi’ Signore, cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l’ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sor’Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iocundo et robustoso et forte.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore,
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke ‘l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
​Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no ‘l farrà male.
​Laudate et benedicete mi’ Signore et rengratiate,
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.

Source: The original text of the Canticle of the Sun (Cantico delle Creature) by Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1224). The text is in the public domain.


Top part of the oldest portrait of St. Francis, a mural painting in the sacred grotto “St. Benedict's Cave” in Subiaco. Sourced from Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

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