St. Francis’s Canticle of the Sun

(St. Francis, 1182-1226)

O most High, almighty, good Lord God,
to you belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing!

Praised be my Lord God with all creatures;

and especially our brother the sun,

which brings us the day, and the light;

fair is he, and shining with a very great splendor:

O Lord, he signifies you to us!

Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon,

and for the stars,

which God 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 which you uphold in life all creatures.

Praised be my Lord for our sister water,

which is very serviceable to us,

and humble, and precious, and clean.

Praised be my Lord for brother fire,

through which you give 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,

which sustains us and keeps us,

and yields divers fruits, and flowers of

many colors, and grass.

Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon

one another for God’s love’s sake,

and who endure weakness and tribulation;

blessed are they who peaceably shall endure,

for you, O most High, shall give them a crown!

Praised be my Lord for our sister,

the death of the body, from which no one escapes.

Woe to him who dies in mortal sin!

Blessed are they who are found walking by your most holy will,

for the second death shall have no power to do them harm.

Praise you, and bless you the Lord,

and give thanks to God, and serve God

with great humility.