Care for Creation – A Franciscan Perspective

The Canticle of Brother Sun

Most high omnipotent good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the honor and all blessing.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong,

And no person is worthy to mention you.

Praise be you, my Lord, with all your creatures,

Especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who makes the day and through whom you give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,

and bears the signification of you, Most High.

Praised be you, my Lord, for Brother Wind,

And for the air-cloudy and serene-and every kind of weather,

By which you give sustenance to your creatures.

Praised be you, my Lord, for Sister Water,

Which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be you, my Lord, for Brother Fire,

By whom you illumine the night,

And he is beautiful and cheerful and robust and strong.

Praise be you, my Lord, for our Sister Mother Earth,

Who sustains and governs us,

And produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be you, m Lord, for those who give pardon for love of you

And bear infirmity and tribulation

Blessed are those who endure in peace,

For by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be you, my Lord, for our Sister Bodily Death

From whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in your most holy will,

For the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give him thanks

And serve him with great humility.

(Translated by Fr. Regis Armstrong OFM CAP)