The Canticle of the Sun
Donald P. Goodman III
Incipimus
O Lord, the Highest, greatest of all lords, the best,
and every goodness, Thou who made the lovely light
that fills the universe, and named the day and night
and then the seas, with waves that rise and ebb and crest;
and then our brother Sun, in all his splendor dressed,
and then our sister Moon and stars, so pure and bright;
our sister, Mother Earth, provider of delight;
and all the beasts that fill the land and sea and nest;
and finally, man and woman; innocent, undressed,
and dwelling joyfully within Thy loving sight;
O loving Father! Gath'ring all within Thy breast!
Who made the world so we, like Thee, can finally rest!
I
Be praised, O Lord, in all Thy creatures, small and great,
especially my mighty friend, Sir Brother Sun,
who through his splendid beams has darkness overrun,
and every morning doth a lovely day create,
all full of light and brightness! With what joy we wait
his rising when the passing of the night is done,
the light and warmth he gives us all, to every one
who walks on Sister Earth, the bless'd and reprobate!
O radiant! In him the Father doth restate
His splendor, shining in him brightly, next to none!
His beauty cannot fail to us poor men elate;
in him Thy likeness Thou dost to us all relate!
II
Be praised, O Lord, in this, our silv'ry sister Moon,
who bounces back our brother Sun's more splendid light,
illumining the world e'en in the dark of night,
and giving promise of the day that's coming soon;
and in the stars, that make up one fantastic rune
across the sky, and twinkle pure and clear and bright
and pierce the blackness, driving off the darkness fright;
our sister stars the sky so wonderf'lly festoon!
Our sisters, Moon and Stars, now sing a hea'enly tune
that eyes, not ears, can love; my Lord, that all is right
e'en in the dark, I know thanks to this wondrous boon;
and through our sisters' song, with Thee we can commune!
III
Be praised, O Lord, in Wind, my brother strong and dear,
who runs about refreshing earth and sea and sky,
and plays so joyfully with all that meets the eye,
e'en when he's still, so still that we cannot him hear,
or quickly races all around, with all his cheer;
and when the lovely sky's so clear we all must sigh
with joy and peace; and when the clouds are coming nigh
and tell of storms and rain and tempest looming near.
Be praised, O Lord! in all Thy weather, wet and dry
and hot and cold, e'en that which makes my brethren fear;
Thou feed'st Thy creatures, sea and land and on the fly,
by this, Thy weather; what a love is this, Most High!
IV
Be praised, O Lord, in Sister Water! She who sings
her lovely, lilting music on her merry way
atop the rocks and roots; Thy praises doth she say
as pure and cool refreshment she Thy creatures brings;
and falling from the sky, our sister, as on wings,
doth wash and clean all things which on the earth do lay,
and e'en our Sister Earth herself, and in her play
she makes us all, Thy creatures, purer, better things.
And yet she always seeks the lowest place she may;
so chaste, she purifies as self she downward flings;
her simple, humble music doth Thy praise convey;
from lowliness unto the heights, with her we pray!
V
Be praised again, O Lord, in this, my Brother Fire,
whose flames will dance and play upon the wood or wick,
and blacken some, then whiten, playing constant trick
as joyfully he sheds the warmth that we require,
and orange and red he spreads to all he can acquire;
and growing strong, his tongues both back and forth will flick
and tasting all that, bright and hot, these tongues can lick,
he grows e'er warmer, brighter, as he climbeth higher.
A smaller Brother Sun, he cheereth weak and sick
and warms the cold and lights the night, will never tire,
as long as he is fed; and though his points may prick,
Thy glory, Lord, is in him, strong and bright and quick!
VI
Be praised, O Lord, in Sister Mother Earth, who feeds
and nourishes Thy creatures with her bounty fair;
whose fertile soil will never languish gray and bare,
but e'er, in earth so rich, embraces all the seeds,
receives our Sister Rain, possesses all the needs
for life to spring anew; and in her gentle care,
this life climbs up and blooms within our Sister Air;
her motherly and loving rule each creature heeds!
O, what a wealth of nourishment she'll ever bear,
and beauty indescribable, e'en in the weeds!
Her fruits and herbs sustain us, and will e'er declare
Thy praises, Thine Who made her, Lord beyond compare!
VII
Be praised, O Most High Lord, in holy people, who
do all they do for deep and living love of Thee;
who for this love forgive without the guarantee
that they will be forgiven, or that what is due
will ever be repaid; whom illness doth subdue;
who suffer pains and weakness, loss and misery,
and bear it in this love in which they always see
the Cross Thy Son did bear to make the whole world new!
Be praised in them that suffer, in Thy peace and free,
for they shall soon receive the crown that's pure and true
from Thine own hand; O Lord, most high in all degree,
be praised in these, Thy people, and their loving plea!
VIII
Be praised, O Lord, in she who sums so many's fears,
our sister, body's Death; yes, she from whom no man
can e'er escape; who brings to naught our every plan,
and one time or another will demand our ears
and bid us follow; who will close our few, short years,
enriching Sister Earth when we have spent our span.
O, woe to those who die within the hateful ban,
in mortal sin! the curse and source of all our tears!
But not all need to fear when Sister Death appears,
for bless'd are they who find Thy will, for never can
the second death do them a harm; and when she nears,
our Sister Death brings us to Thee, Whom she reveres!
PROCEDIMUS
O, praise and bless the Lord Most High! O, give Him praise!
For He Who is, and was, and is to come, is kind
and loves what He has made, what sprang forth from His mind
and out of nothing; glory to our God we raise!
And all creation with their songs to Him conveys
its love and gratitude; our brethren, all aligned
in praising Him Who made us, with our praise combined,
give glory to the One, the Good, in all His ways!
Our brethren Sun and Fire and Moon and Stars have shined
to set creation for the love of Thee ablaze!
With all our humble brethren, all by Thee designed,
we praise Thy Name, O Most High, world and all mankind!