This brown-robed man who's feast day we celebrate on October 4, left his middle-class roots to wander and to wonder about the natural world around him. In so doing, he developed a deep and loving relationship with her...
He also was a reformer but a different kind...that's a good topic to explore in another post. I've included some links for the curious...the explorers...
Here now, I'm comparing his lyrics in his "Canticle of the Creatures" (a.k.a, "Canticle of Creation") to those of a favorite musician - Trevor Hall - in his "Moon and Sun" piece, as they both extol the wonders of our natural world...
FRANCIS
Let's begin with this 3-minute intro that Richard presented at a Science and Nonduality conference.
--pictured here next to Clare...
Historians have credited Francis with composing the first great poem in Italian—a poem or hymn that bears the title The Canticle of Brother Sun (also known as The Canticle of the Creatures). In this hymn Francis invites all his brother and sister creatures—whether minerals, plants or animals—to praise their Creator. These creatures include “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon,” “Brother Fire” and “Sister Water,” as well as “Sister Earth our Mother,” with all her various fruits and colored flowers.
When St Francis composed the extraordinary Canticle of the Creatures (or Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon), he was blind.
Yet, he was able to see more clearly than ever with the inner eye of his mind.
With unparalleled clarity he perceived the basic unity of all creation and his own place as a friar in the midst of God’s creatures.
His unqualified love of all creatures, great and small, had grown into unity in his own heart.
He was a centre of communion with all creation.
A video follows his poem...If you like me have outgrown the idea that "G-d" is only male, simply substitute your preferred pronoun (s)...
Canticle of Brother Sun
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 that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
Through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful is he, how merry! 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.
How dreadful for those who die in sin!
How lovely for those found in Your Most Holy Will.
The second death can do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
And serve him with great humility.
TREVOR HALL
A video follows his song...
Moon / Sun - Trevor Hall
Here we go again, creation
Clap now for the jubilation
Look at all that light you making
Send it out no reservation
Like a river we let it flow
Still hot like a volcano
Mother Earth still got my soul
In the hot, in the cold, in the rain, in the snow
Hey lo, wish on a butterfly wing
Take that crown, put it on that king
Sing like a child, no care for opinion
Real love across our dominion
Oh, so bountiful
Pull it back and let it go
Like ocean wave, we're powerful
Constellation, magical
So, this love still holds true
Now what you gonna do?
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you
Between the moon and sun
This life is never done
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you, ah
I won't give up on you, yeah
Send up, send up, send up my love, ah
I won't give up on you
I stand up, gotta put my hands up
Fruit down straw like Mauna Kea
In the ocean, holy motion
Ride that flow, I'll see you later
In the park of Shangri-La I see my ma
She's standing holy, all those colours filled with glory
Open up and hear this story
Oh, and this love still holds true
Now what you gonna do?
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you
Between the moon and sun
This life is never done
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you
This love still holds true
Now what you gonna do?
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you
Between the moon and sun
This life is never done
I won't give up on you
I won't give up on you
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah)
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah)
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah)
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah)
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow, follow, follow you
Yeah
I will follow you, yeah
My Mother the Poetess
From her book of poems "The God of the Universe Dances in Trees":
My sister Peggy helped craft the summary on the Amazon site:
The God of the Universe Dances in Trees is a collection of the author's prayer-poems written during the past thirty years, with some as young as yesterday. It's a response, prompted by others who pray, and who remind-that which is received as gift, is meant to be shared. The poems are simple, easy to understand and down to earth. The title is not a contradiction. You'll see. Catherine's poetry is heartfelt prayer, comfortable conversation with her forever Friend. She praises Him, asks questions, sings Him love songs, and offers Him light moments, too. While the book may remind you of blessings you already have, you might even discover a new gift like- finding God in unusual places,- making time to simply be with Him,- listening with your heart as He whispers tenderly,- learning, little by little, to never hurry away. The author is aware of the familiar challenge-if you love God, why not shout it, from the highest rooftop? Well, why not? With joy and hope, this book is her rooftop. Come. Enjoy the experience. Be part of it.
"Born Again" Bob...
"Hey, Tom, what religion are you?"..."I'm a Franciscan!"
At a 2023 Halloween "Procession of the Ghouls" event in NYC's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I dressed as Francis to bring some balance to the force(s) of darkness...
With brothers sitting around the campfire...
At today's monthly Men2Men circle, a few guys showed up with messages about the great outdoors...Another example of what I've often said: The posts practically write themselves...My role is to stay alert to the messages...
"I go into the forest to lose my mind and find my soul"
By our home across from the George Washington Elementary School:
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park - Great River, NY
--Eileen and I meet here regularly with our friends from the LI Baha'i community to share "poems, prayers and promises...".
Francis: Beyond the Birdbath...
For the title of this section, I used the words from Franciscan Richard Rohr to start us on an exploration of facets of Francis’s life that extend beyond the recognition of his appreciation for all creatures great and small.
If you're interested in exploring another facet of Francis's life, here's a half-hour introduction:
#music #humor #poems #FrancisOfAssisi #RichardRohr, #TrevorHall #BobDylan #CatherineTittmann #Peggy #ProcessionOfTheGhouls #CathedralOfStJohnTheDivine #Men2Men #Bahai #BayardCuttingArboretumStatePark #TreeHugger #GeorgeWashingtonElementarySchool #JohnMuir
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