The Canticle of Brother Sun

Today is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi and National Poetry Day. The two come together is The Canticle of Brother Sun.

At National Poetry Day, we know that poetry is life-enhancing. For one day each year we channel the enthusiasm, passion and skill of poetry readers and writers into a national celebration. National Poetry Day 2007 falls on Thursday October 4th. National Poetry Day is the brainchild of William Sieghart of The Forward Arts Foundation who fuelled the nation’s enthusiasm for poetry by founding both National Poetry Day and the Forward Prize for Poetry. Now in our fourteenth year, we hope you will join us in the celebration.

The Canticle of Brother Son
or The Praises of the Creatures

The Canticle of Brother Sun is the very first work of literature in the Italian language. St. Francis composed it most likely during the winter of 1224-5 A.D.—possibly while at the Church of San Damiano, in Assisi —as grace, born of suffering, urged him to praise and glorify the Most Holy Trinity even unto death. The Canticle of Brother Sun first appears in the historical record in a reference made by Bl. Thomas of Celano in his Vita Prima, written 1228 A.D.

Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord,Thine be the praises, the glory, and the honor and every blessing (cf. Apoc. 4:9.11).

To Thee alone, Most High, do they belong and no man is worthy to mention Thee.

May Thou be praised, my Lord, with all Thy creatures (cf. Tob. 8:7),especially mister brother sun,of whom is the day, and Thou enlightens us through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant with a great splendor,of Thee, Most High, does he convey the meaning

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars (cf. Ps. 148:3),in heaven Thou has made them clear and precious and beautiful

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for brother wind,and for the air and the cloudy and the clear weather and every weather (cf. Dan 3:64-65), through which to all Thy creatures Thou gives sustenance (cf. Ps. 103:13-14)

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for sister water,who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste

May Thou be praised, my lord, for brother fire (cf. Dan 3:66),through whom Thou illumines the night,and he is handsome and jocund and robust and strong

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth, (cf. Dan 3:74)who sustains us and governs,and produces various fruits with colored flowers and green plants (cf. Ps 103:13-14)

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for the sake of Thy love (cf. Mt 6:12),and endure infirmity and tribulation

Blessed those who endure them in peace (cf. Mt 5:10),because by Thee, Most High, will they be crowned

May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, bodily death,whom no man living can escape
Woe to those, who die in mortal sin: blessed those whom she will find in Thy most holy desires,because the second death will do them no evil (cf. Apoc 2:11; 20:6)

Praise and bless my Lord (cf. Dan 3:85),and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility!

Extract from 'Franciscan Spirituality'
Brother Ramon SSF

It is a mysterious and remarkable fact that Francis composed and sang his Canticle in the context of darkness, suffering and blindness, approaching the end of his earthly pilgrimage.

The Church around him was filled with corruption, materialism, and crusading violence. His beloved Order of friars was invaded by schism, and there was wholesale departure from the simplicity and poverty of Francis' earlier vision. Humanly speaking, it could have led to self pity and despair. But the darkest moment is just prior to the dawn, so God's revelation of love and assurance was about to burst upon and within him.

Francis' darkness gave way to spiritual enlightenment, and he composed, out of his existential darkness, this beautiful hymn of light and glory, praising God in and through the wonders of creation.