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 the 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.
(The Canticle of Brother Sun)
Reflection
Most Christians, and many others, know that Saint Francis called the sun “brother” and the moon and stars “sisters.” These are, however, related to each other and to the rest of creation only through God. They cannot explain themselves. They have no value independent of God.
Thomas of Celano, Francis’ first biographer, wrote that Francis made of all creation a ladder by which to ascend to the Creator. A love of nature not rooted in the Creator will sooner or later degenerate into a sentimentality to be doled out or withheld at the pleasure of the person who sees the world this way.
If we forget this, then we will be strongly tempted to yell, “Mine, mine” about things and people who have been created for God’s pleasure. We are invited to share in that pleasure—but on God’s terms.
Saint Francis on…
Creation: “Lord, King of heaven and earth, we give you thanks for yourself. Of your own holy will you created all things spiritual and physical, made us in your own image and likeness, and gave us a place in paradise, through your only Son, in the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer
Lord of all Creation, Francis of Assisi had great
respect for everything that you have made: trees,
birds, worms, sunsets, rainbows, fire, water—and even
lepers. Help us not to be stingy with our respect for
all your creation because, properly appreciated, it
will always lead us back to you and to the harmony
you have always intended us to enjoy.
5 thoughts on “Saint Francis Novena | Day Eight: Creation”
Thank You, Lord, for all creation, the Artistry of You!
Francis’s message of praising God in all of creation is just as important today as it was in his day, maybe even more. May we all see God in everything around us as we evolve into His presence.
Sadly, so few people these days make time to stop and breathe in the creation around them. Or step outside at night and look up. They are off in their cars or stuck in front of televisions or computers.
No one seems to care that God’s Creation is being rapidly destroyed
Amen. Thank you for reminding us that St. Francis’ great love of Creation was rooted in His love for our Creator GOD & how His Creation reflects & points to our Creator by & through Whom we are connected as brothers & sisters.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans we see the danger of the human tendency to turn toward worship of Creation instead of the proper worship due our Creator. We see this in our time in the New Age movement & in some environmentalists.
So we must avoid two opposite dangers. On one hand we must stop neglecting & abusing GOD’S CREATION & become better stewards who appreciate, respect & care for our brothers & sisters.
On the other hand we must avoid the pitfalls of pantheism & avoid becoming so focused on Creation that we lose sight of the primary purpose we honor Creation: all of Creation was created by GOD & points to Him & should serve to draw us closer to GOD.
Brilliantly directing all – to the joyous goal, adoration of Almighty God, Heavenly King, & yet Loving Father.Thank You Lord for Your Loving Kindness.😏🙏⛅👆