Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

    We come to sing a song of praise to you, O God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who by your power and out of your love have created all things and called them good.

    We praise you for our Brother Sun, who in his radiant dawning every day reminds us that it was you who brought forth light.

    We praise you for Sister Moon and all our Sister Stars, who clothe the night with their beauty and, like you, watch over us while we sleep.

    We praise you for our Brother Wind and every kind of weather, stormy or mild. For when he roars he reminds us of your might, and when he comes as a cooling breeze, he tells us of your gentleness.
    Praise, too, for our ever-present Brother Air, who, though invisible, surrounds us and gives us life and breath.
    Truly, he is a creation in your likeness.

    We praise you for Sister Water, who fills the seas and rushes down the rivers—who wells up from the earth and falls down from heaven—who gives herself that all living things may grow and be nourished.

    We praise you for our Brother Fire, whose strength warms our homes and in whose resplendent dancing light we glimpse your playfulness.

    We praise you for our Sister Earth, who declares your mother love for us as she sustains our bodies with food and our souls with beauty.

    We praise you for the ones among us who forgive those who have wronged them in the same spirit as you constantly forgive us.
    And for those who must bear in this life sickness and trial, we ask for the comfort of your everlasting arms.

    We praise you that in this world of hatred and war, you still give us courageous brothers and sisters who offer their lives to the making of peace. They are indeed your beloved children.

    And, though we often fear her, we praise you for our Sister Death, who will usher us at last into your loving presence, where we will know and love you as you have always known and loved us.

    For all your gifts—for this wondrous universe in which we live, for family, for friends, for work and play, for this life and the life to come—we sing our praise to you.

    For this life and the life to come, we sing our praise to you, O Lord, the Father and Mother of all creation.
    Give us, we pray, the grace to honor you this day and forever more.

The Canticle of the Creatures
by Saint Francis of Assisi

    Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
    Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
    Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
    Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
    Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
    Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful and powerful and strong.
    Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
    Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
    Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.
    Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.
    Translated by Bill Barrett from the Umbrian text of the Assisi codex. Used with permission.