The Feast of Saint Francis is a time for us to remember that the we are called to love all of our neighbors, which includes every creature great and small. It is on this Sunday that we invite our community to bring their pets with them to our 10AM Outdoor Sunday Worship so that they can worship alongside us in the Spirit of St. Francis and receive a special pet blessing. All creatures great and small are invited, however leashes and crates are encouraged for their comfort and the safety of others.
You can read more about the life of St. Francis HERE and about additional ways you love creatures great and small for St. Francis Day HERE.
In preparation for this Sunday we encourage you to mediate on one of St. Francis most popular pieces of writing, The Canticle of the Creatures (also known as the A Song of Brother Sun.)
The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
yours are the praises, the glory, the honour
and all blessing.To you alone, Most High, do they belong
and no human is worthy to mention your name.
Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun,
who is the day and through whom you give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour; and bears a likeness of you, Most High One.
Praised 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,
who 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 our Sister, Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us
and who produces various fruit
with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be you, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for your love
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessèd are those who endure in peace:
for by you, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be you, my Lord, for our Sister,
Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape:
woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessèd 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.
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