Canticle of Creation

The Canticle of the Creatures

Francis of Assisi · 1181/82–1226

Sick and nearly blind at San Damiano, Francis broke into praise of God through all his creatures. Move through the canticle stanza by stanza, letting each creature — sun, moon, wind, water, fire, earth — become a window of praise.

The stanzas on forgiveness and on Sister Death were added later in his life. (The well-known “Peace Prayer” is not by Francis — it first appeared in 1912.)

St Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures (c. 1224–25, San Damiano).