The Canticle of Brother Sun
by Saint Francis of Assisi

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord! All praise is 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, through all that you have made, And first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and light you give to
us through him.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars; In the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, by which you cherish all you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Through whom you brighten up the night.  How beautiful is he, how joyful!  Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother, Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon For love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace, By you, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those She finds doing your will! The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks, And serve him with great humility.

Rule 18

Moreover they should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which bear the imprint of the Most High, and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship.

This is the Ecology Rule. Ecology is the relationship of creatures with themselves, with the environment and with God. Saint Francis saw all creation. The love Saint Francis has for the environment is clearly seen in his famous "Canticle of Brother Sun." He loved all of nature, from human beings down to the smallest insect. All bear the "imprint of the Most High" because all were created by God. Franciscans are united in their love for man and beast, flora and fauna and the global environment. That encompasses clean air, clear water, and the right that all creatures have to roam the earth.

This Rule also exhorts us to subscribe to Francis' concept of universal kinship, that is, in word and deed we should love sister, brother, neighbor, enemy, because God loves them too. That some of these people are sinners does not concern us. We are not to judge them, rather, we should pray for them, for all who cross our path. Neither should be exploit nature. Exploiting nature is common today. Taking known habitat away from other creatures, be they birds or mammals, or even man, to build a large hotel in an area where there are plenty of hotels, well, that's un-Franciscan. Franciscans seek balance in nature, wisdom, common sense, and most of all respect. Respect for one another and for all creatures, animate and inanimate that bear the imprint of the Most High.


                                                 P. Phillippus de Phillippus
                                                                         Used with Permission

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5-11-2008