A few years ago at the Basilica of Assisi I visited the tomb of St. Francis and participated in evening vespers. He is most famous as patron saint of animals and his prayer for peace, beginning "Lord make me an instrument of your peace...".
Years earlier, purging a public school library for Southern Association Accreditation of Rowland-Norment School in the 1990s, our media specialist had stacked all books with religious references in the hallway to be thrown out. Rummaging through them I came across a small book published in 1952 titled Song of the Sun. Not knowing what lay within I opened the book and was immediately charmed by Elizabeth Orton Jones illustrations accompanying Song of the Sun, from the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi. I saved the little book placing it on my piano with music. My Easter gift to you:
Song of the Sun
O most high almighty, good Lord God, to Thee belong praise, glory, honour and all blessing!
Praised be my Lord God with all His creatures; and specially our brother the sun, who brings us the day, and who brings us the light; fair is he, and shining with a very great splendour.
Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for the stars the which He has set clear and lovely in heaven.
Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind, and for air and cloud, calms and all weather, by the which Thou upholdest in life all creatures.
Praised be my Lord for our sister water, who is very serviceable unto us, and humble, and precious, and clean.
Praised be my Lord for our brother fire, through whom Thou givest us light in darkness; and he is bright and pleasant, and very mighty, and strong.
Praised be my Lord for our mother the earth, the which doth sustain us and keep us, and bringeth for divers fruits, and flowers of many colours, and grass.
Praise ye, and bless ye the Lord, and give thanks unto Him and serve Him with great humility.
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