Canticle of the Sun
by: St. Francis of Assisi
Most high, all-powerful, good Lord,
Praise be 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.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
in all your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun
who brings the day;
and light you give us through him.
How beautiful he is, how radiant in his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he is the token.
All praise be yours, my Lord
for Sister Moon and the Stars;
in the heavens you have made them,
bright and precious and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
for Brother Wind and the Air,
and fair and stormy
and every kind of weather
by which you nourish everything
you have made.
All praise by yours, my Lord,
for Sister Water;
she is so useful and lowly,
so precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
for Brother Fire
by whom you brighten the night.
How beautiful he is,
how gay, robust, and strong!
All praise be yours, my Lord,
for Sister Earth, our mother
who feeds us, rules us
and produces all sorts of fruit
and colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
for those who forgive one another
for love of you
and endure infirmity and tribulation.
Happy are they who endure these in peace
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
for our Sister Physical Death
from whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy are those she finds
doing your most holy will!
The Second death can do no harm to them.
St. Francis of Assisi