The CANTICLE proclaims the overflowing wonder which filled the heart of St. Francis, the exultation of his spirit before the beauty of creation. With the eyes of faith, he saw every creature rendering to the Creator glory and praise both in its being and through its being. The CANTICLE is a hymn of glory, an outburst of spiritual joy. It is a mystical flight in song of a man who was poor enough to own the universe and rich enough to reverence it in every smallest detail.
But the CANTICLE OF THE
CREATURES teaches us another valuable lesson about prayer.
It was composed not in the full bloom of health or in the fervor
of first conversion, but less than two years before the death of St.
Francis as he lay seriously ill in a little hut on the grounds of the
monastery of San Damiano.
His blinded eyes could no longer bear to look upon the brightness of
Brother Sun. His
stigmatized feet could no longer step firmly upon Sister Earth.
His love-wounded heart was burdened with suffering as he bore
within it the weight of sin and the ingratitude of humanity.
And yet, in the midst of his pain there flowered song, for the
heart of Francis was right with God the Father, conformed to God the Son
and flooded with the love of God the Holy Spirit which impelled him to
invite all creation to....
and give thanks to Him
and
serve Him with great humility.
