St Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun

  • Thread starter Thread starter FuzzyBunny116
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Read Daniel chapter 3
3 men who deceided not to worship a gold statue were thrown into a furnace, they praised the Lord, St. Francis’ Canticle of Brother Sun reminds me of this part of their praise
Dan3:62-81 in part:
Sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Every shower and dews, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. All you winds, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever, …it goes on and on, it actually starts at verse 52 and goes on to verse 90
fire and heat…cold and chill, dew and rain, frost and chill, ice and snow, nights and days, light and darkness, lightnings and clouds…mountains and hills, …seas and rivers, dolphins and all water creatures, birds of the air,…beasts, wild and tame…etc…its beautiful actually.
As they praised the Lord, they were kept from the flames, and then they were eventually released and the King who was trying to get them to worship his golden statue was converted.
 
How on earth is that pagan? Name one line where he worships something other then the one true God.

Josh
 
You may prefer this version of St Francis’ Canticle:

All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voices, let us sing:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beams,
thou silver moon that gently gleams,

Refrain:
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice, (R)

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
that givest man both warmth and light, (R)

Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them his glory also show: (R)

And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on Him cast your care: (R)

And thou, most kind and gentle death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord the way hath trod: (R)

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One: (R)
A thought just occured to me why this might seem pagan. In this version, where the canticle, says:
Code: 
 Thou burning sun with golden beams, 
 thou silver moon that gently gleams,
  • Code: 
    Refrain:
    O praise Him, O praise Him,
    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!*
or in the other version where it says:
Code: 
 Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
 especially Sir Brother Sun,
 Who is the day through whom You give us light.
 And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
 Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
One might get the mistaken impression that St Francis is praising the Sun, Moon, stars, etc., which would be pagan. That’s not what is happening. Rather, St Francis is exhorting Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and all Creation to praise God, their maker. I hope this helps.
 
40.png
threej_lc:
How on earth is that pagan? Name one line where he worships something other then the one true God.

Josh
Click to expand...
I just said it sounded rather pagan, with such emphasis on nature I guess. I’ve nothing against St. Francis, he seems awesome, and I doubt the Magisterum would canonize him if he wasn’t orthodox.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top