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The Canticle of Brother Sun
Translated from the Critical Latin Edition, edited by Fr. Kajetan Esser, O.F.M.
The Canticle of Brother Son
or The Praises of the Creatures 1
[CantSol]
The Canticle of Brother Sun is the very first work of literature in the Italian language. St. Francis composed it most likely during the winter of 1224-5 A.D.—possibly while at the Church of San Damiano, in Assisi 2—as grace, born of suffering, urged him to praise and glorify the Most Holy Trinity even unto death. The Canticle of Brother Sun first appears in the historical record in a reference made by Bl. Thomas of Celano in his Vita Prima, written 1228 A.D. 3
Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord,
Thine be the praises, the glory, and the honor and every blessing (cf. Apoc. 4:9.11).
To Thee alone, Most High, do they belong
and no man is worthy to mention Thee.
May Thou be praised, my Lord, with all Thy creatures (cf. Tob. 8:7),
especially mister brother sun,
of whom is the day, and Thou enlightens us through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant with a great splendor,
of Thee, Most High, does he convey the meaning
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for 4 sister moon and the stars (cf. Ps. 148:3),
in heaven Thou has made them clear and precious and beautiful
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for brother wind,
and for the air and the cloudy and the clear weather and every weather (cf. Dan 3:64-65), through which to all Thy creatures Thou gives sustenance (cf. Ps. 103:13-14)
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for sister water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste
May Thou be praised, my lord, for brother fire (cf. Dan 3:66),
through whom Thou illumines the night,
and he is handsome and jocund and robust and strong
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth, (cf. Dan 3:74)
who sustains us and governs,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and green plants (cf. Ps 103:13-14)
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for the sake of Thy love 5 (cf. Mt 6:12),
and endure infirmity and tribulation
Blessed those who endure them in peace (cf. Mt 5:10),
because by Thee, Most High, will they be crowned
May Thou be praised, my Lord, for our sister, bodily death,
whom no man living can escape
Woe to those, who die in mortal sin: 6
blessed those whom she 7 will find in Thy most holy desires,
because the second death will do them no evil (cf. Apoc 2:11; 20:6)
Praise and bless my Lord (cf. Dan 3:85),
and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility!
FOOTNOTES
1 This English translation was made from the most ancient Italian text identified by Fr. K. Esser, p. 157. For a biblical parallel, cf. Dan. 3:17,23,51-90 and Psalm 148. Punctuation and the arrangement of fourteen verses follows that of the original Italian. The translation of the Italian per into English as "for" has been retained, despite K. Esser's translation of the same into Latin as propter; cf. Note on Latin terms at the beginning of this work.
2 K. Esser, pp. 160-1.
3 cf. 1 Celano 80-1,109,115; see also 2 Celano 213, 217.
4 For a more recent discussion of the use of per ("for") in this Canticle, cf. K. Esser, p. 159, n.33.
5 The Italian here reads per lo tuo amore. This last word is the equivalent of the Latin term amor, cf. Note on Latin terms at the beginning of this work.
6 cf. 1 Jn 16:17.
7 Sister, bodily death.