English, Italian. Text Source: Canticle of the Creatures, Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226, adapt. MH. Text by St. Francis of Assisi.
In its sweeping lyric, Francis' canticle combines a reverence for and delight in God's creation and simultaneously celebrates God's tender love and compassion for humanity. Pope Francis echoes this same understanding in his declaration of a Jubilee Year of Mercy and his 2015 encyclical on the environment named after St. Francis' canticle, Laudato Si. In keeping with the spirit of St. Francis, this setting is intended to be simple and easily accessible. Keep the presentation light and joyous. With a little practice an assembly can sing the verses, as well as the refrain. An alternate setting of the final verse was written to offer a change in tone for the more somber text.
