St. Francis of Assisi - The Canticle of Brother Sun

The Canticle of Brother Sun

My Lord most high, all-powerful, all-good,
Celebration, light, and all sweet blessings are yours,
yours alone.
No man speaks
who can speak your Name.

Praise to you, my Lord, and to all beings of your creation!
Praise especially to brother sun,
who fills the day with light
-- through whom you shine!
Beautiful and bright, magnificent with splendor,
He shows us your Face.

Praise to my Lord for sister moon
and for the stars.
You have formed them in the firmament,
fine and rare and fair.
Praise to you, Lord, for brother wind,
for the air, for the clouds,
for fair days and every turn of weather
-- through which you feed the world.

Praise to my Lord for sister water,
precious and pure, who selflessly serves all.

Praise to my Lord for brother fire,
through whom you fill the dark with light.
Lovely is he in his delight, mighty and strong.

Praise to my Lord for our sister, mother earth,
who nourishes us and surrounds us
in a world ripe with fruit, pregnant
with grassy fields,
spangled with flowers.

Praise to my Lord for those seeking your love,
who discover within themselves forgiveness,
rejecting neither frailty nor sorrow.
Enduring in serenity, they are blessed,
For they shall be crowned by your hand, Most High.

Praise to my Lord for our sister death,
the body's death,
whom none avoid.
A great sadness for those who die having missed life's mark;
Yet blessed they whose way
is your most holy will --
Having died once, the second death
does them no ill.

Sing praises!
Offer holy blessings to my Lord!
In gratitude, selflessly offer yourself to him.

~ St. Francis of Assisi
tr. by Ivan M. Granger