Honoring St. Francis
Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Though I do not come from a tradition that celebrates saints like Catholics or Episcopalians, I have great affection for St. Francis and couldn’t let the day pass without honoring him. St. Francis believed that God expressed Godself through creation and one could come near to the Holy by drawing close to nature.
I have connected most consistently with God through nature. I love animals--cats, blue jays, deer, manatees, cheetahs, kangaroos and whales. I identify as a girl from the north country, the land of pines and cliffs above cold water and rolling fields of soybeans and corn and wheat. The Great Lakes are deep in my bones, and from a young age I have experienced the Divine, the Great Big Something Else, at the edge of Big Water, in the land of the Anishinaabe and Potawatomi. As a young adult, I put a lot of energy into gardening and learning how to grow food, getting up close and personal with the creative power at work in the microbes of soil and the alchemy of sunshine and chlorophyll.
During my first year of college, I traveled with some dear friends to Taize, France, to spend a couple weeks in the ecumenical monastery at Taize. I experienced the Holy in a way I never had before, as I spent a week in silent contemplation, my first exposure to this spiritual practice. The only time I would open my mouth was to speak to the rolling hills, the quiet pond, the early-budding trees and the birds at work and play in January. As I walked quietly throughout that week, I paid special attention to the nature around me, talking with God and feeling that God was revealing Godself to me in the particularity of the natural world. Though I was thousands of miles from home, I found my home in the Divine’s creation.
my photo of the Roman church in Taize, January 2011
There is a small Roman church in the village of Taize, built hundreds of years ago. In that church are marvelous stained glass windows, one of which honors St. Francis. I always think of that stained glass when I think of St. Francis. I experienced a moment of peace as I noticed the small window depicting the simple saint talking with the birds.
my photo from January 2011, St. Francis window
Several years ago, I was lucky to accompany the youth group from my church on an overnight camping retreat where they explored the Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon. Again, St. Francis’ words guided pilgrims searching for the Holy, revealing opportunities to meet God in words around a Tennessee campfire and in birdsong. All of God is everywhere. Thanks be to God.
a tapestry of Taize’s St. Francis stained glass window from the artists at the Kairos Center at First Baptist Matanzas, Cuba
Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon
St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
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 through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.