This morning Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment was published in Rome. (An encyclical is a circular or general "letter" written by the pope, addressed to the bishops and through them to the whole Church.) The encyclical is titled, Be praised: On the care of our common home. You'll find the English translation here (courtesy of Rocco over at Whispers).
In the same vein, here's the beautiful Canticle of the Sun, attributed to Saint Francis, the pope's namesake. This poetic piece offers a prayerful setting for what the Church teaches on creation as God's gift to humankind:
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
yours are the praises, the glory, the honor,
and all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal is worthy to mention your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praise 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 which
you give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which 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, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be you, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by you, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be you, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living human 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.
Amen.
In the same vein, here's the beautiful Canticle of the Sun, attributed to Saint Francis, the pope's namesake. This poetic piece offers a prayerful setting for what the Church teaches on creation as God's gift to humankind:
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
yours are the praises, the glory, the honor,
and all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal is worthy to mention your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praise 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 which
you give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which 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, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be you, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by you, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be you, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living human 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.
Amen.
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