The Year of the Canticle of the Creatures
On Saturday 11 January 2025 in Assisi, the Franciscan Family began the Eight Centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures. This is the third stage of the Franciscan Centenary Celebrations that trace the last years of St Francis’ life. In 2024 Franciscans recalled the eight centenaries of the approval of their Rule and of Christmas at Greccio, and last year also, the Sacred Stigmata.
In the event held this January, at a gathering in San Damiano, there were readings from the Franciscan Sources that narrate the writing of the Canticle and some biblical passages that praise creation. Then some representatives of the Franciscan Family shared their own reflections.
Minister General Massimo Fusarelli OFM spoke of the Canticle as a prayer. ‘We celebrate the centenary of a text that is certainly a poem, but first and foremost a prayer. The opening words leave no doubt. Francis addresses the “Most High, omnipotent, good Lord”. We must read this text, then, with a prayerful spirit in order to truly under¬stand it. We want to associate ourselves with Francis’ prayer, in accordance with our faith, as we express it in prayer and in thanksgiving.’
He continued, ‘The first creature upon which Francis fixes his gaze is the sun; of it he writes, “it is beautiful and radiant with great splendour; of You, Most High, it bears a likeness”. In these words, we find a key to understanding that the entire Canticle – the sun and all creatures are a sign of God. They speak to us of God if we know how to look at them with appropriate eyes, that is, with eyes illuminated by faith and fixed on Jesus Christ, who is the Sun of Justice that rises from on high. One must read this text with a prayerful soul to really understand it. We want to associate our¬selves with Francis’ prayer with our faith, which is expressed in prayer and thanks¬giving.’
Massimo then prayed: ‘Most High, almighty, good Lord, we pray to you: open our eyes to a gaze of faith that knows in Christ how to recognise the sig¬nificance of your presence in the cosmos and in history. Amen.’
Roberto Genuin OFMCap, Minister General of the Capuchins, also shared a reflection. ‘After praising inanimate creatures, Francis praises the Lord “for those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.” The Canticle does not only speak of the beauty of nature, but also of the difficul¬ties of human history. If there is praise for forgiveness, it means that there are sins to forgive, as well as infirmity and tribulation. We find here that association between the environment and the human person that Pope Francis has taught us to call “integral ecology, for a true eco¬logical approach always becomes a social approach, it means hearing both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”. Finally, Francis teaches that diffi¬culties can be endured in peace, “blessed are those who endure in peace”, because the peace that makes one blessed, flourishes amid obstacles and adversity.’
Roberto prayed: ‘Most High, Almighty, Good Lord, give peace to this world of ours, the peace that blos¬soms amidst infirmities and tribulations, and accompanies forgiveness for your love, the peace that comes from you and renders us blessed. Amen.’
Tibor Kauser, Minister General of the Secular Franciscan Order, also spoke. ‘The Canticle, first of all, contem¬plates the beauty of the cosmos; it then expands to the difficult human events and finally casts its gaze on the ultimate and definitive reality for us all: death. And always for Francis, for every reality contemplated, praise rises! Even for death, Francis can say, “Praised be to You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death.” What could explain this attitude of Francis, who is always able to praise? His secret is faith in a God, who is “good, every good, the supreme good, who alone is good”. Only such faith can explain this constant praise, which recog¬nises that everything comes from God and that all good is restored to him in thanksgiving and in praise.’
Tibor ended by praying, ‘Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, give us Francis’ profound faith, that we may recognise you as the only good, and joyfully restore to you the gifts of the cosmos, the events of history, and all of our life, until that last and final restitution that will unite us to you forever. Amen.’
The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory,
and the honour, and all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no one is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun,
who is the day and through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and
radiant with great splendour; and bears a likeness of You, O Most High.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven
You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather, through whom You give sustenance to
your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is
very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom
You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and
strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, though our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruits with
coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, for those who forgive for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace, because by You, Most High,
they will be crowned.
Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no living person 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 will do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.
- Francis of Assisi
