Saint Francis

I haven't heard that prayer in years.... thank you for sharing x

Hi, thank you for that reminder! Didn't he write the "brother sun, sister moon" meditation about the interconnectedness of all creation?

Since last weekend, I'm still nostalgically remembering school Michaelmas assemblies - complete with Michaelmas daisies in a huge vase and tales of St. Michael fighting the devil in the great "war in heaven" ... introduced by the rousing music of Good-versus-evil Star Wars! An analogy then so topical & exciting for kids!
Oh happy memories of long-gone times, attitudes, expectations & inspirations ...

How've you been, Mr. B? You've been missed.

Hi, thank you for that reminder! Didn't he write the "brother sun, sister moon" meditation about the interconnectedness of all creation?

Yes. I think I read somewhere that it was one of the very first pieces of literature to be written in Italian.

This is part of it...

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! 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.

Donovan wrote a song which was inspired by it too; [url]Brother Sun Sister Moon[/url], for the film of the same name.

How've you been, Mr. B? You've been missed.

That's very nice of you to say, Starshower :). I've been putting the finishing touches to a book.

Thanks Barafundle,

I just love that prayer and also the hymn that has come from it - Make me a channel of your peace. Here it is by All Angels:

and here's a Welsh version! :p

Love and peace,

Judy

Thanks very much for those Judy.

This hymn is based on Saint Francis' 'Canticle of Brother Sun'...

[url]All Creatures of our God and King[/url]

One thing I find amazing about the life of Saint Francis is that in only about twenty years of the early 13th century he had inspired thousands from all over Europe to follow his example and lead a life of selfless, loving service.

Thanks very much for those Judy.

One thing I find amazing about the life of Saint Francis is that in only about twenty years of the early 13th century he had inspired thousands from all over Europe to follow his example and lead a life of selfless, loving service.

And Jesus after only three years of teaching, preaching and healing had inspired millions right through the known world, even as far as India and China, though sadly, with the organisation and dogma that crept in, much of original Christianity was lost.

Thanks for that other link too, but hey, you've disappointed me. I was expecting a Barafundle reply to the "Welsh version" 😉

Love and peace,

Judy

And Jesus after only three years of teaching, preaching and healing had inspired millions right through the known world

You're right there Judy :).

What I meant more specifically, and what I didn't make clear, was that by the time Francis died at the age of 44 he had already inspired thousands to follow his example. The fact that this happened in early mediaeval Europe, and was a Europe-wide phenomenon, is what has always impressed me.

It is amazing isn't it that Jesus made the impact he did in just three years.

sadly, with the organisation and dogma that crept in, much of original Christianity was lost.

I was listening to a programme on the radio today in which they were discussing the oldest known copy of the bible, the Codex Sinaiticus, which experts think dates back to the early 4th century. They were commenting on the hundreds of alterations and 'corrections' that had been made to it over the years.

Thanks for that other link too, but hey, you've disappointed me. I was expecting a Barafundle reply to the "Welsh version" 😉

Sorry about that Judy. I shall make up for it with a Welsh hymn that fits in very well with the Saint Francis theme, I think he would have liked it (A long time ago I posted this on another thread, but you can't hear it enough in my opinion).

[url]Calon Lan[/url] (A Pure Heart)

[INDENT]A translation:

I’d not ask for a life that’s easy,
Gold and pearls so little mean,
Rather seek a heart that’s joyful,
Heart that’s honest, heart that’s clean.

(Chorus)
Heart that’s clean and filled with virtue,
Fairer far than lilies white,
Only pure hearts praise God truly,
Praise him all the day and night.

Why should I seek earthly treasures,
On swift wings they fly away,
Pure clean hearts bring greater riches
That for life eternal stay.

(Chorus)

Dawn and sunset still I’m searching,
Reaching on a wing of song,
Give me Lord, through Christ my Saviour
That clean heart for which I long.

(Chorus)[/INDENT]

Hey folks

Just wanted to say we went to Assisi as part of our honeymoon in June and visited St Francis' tomb which was an incredible place. It's in a crypt type basement below a huge church and it was packed with tourists and worshippers. Unfortunately you were not allowed to photograph the place but it was so nicely laid out we just stood there for ages as if transfixed. It was like the first real holy place I 'felt'. A beautiful tomb if ever there was one.

This has an image but it really doesn't do it justice [DLMURL] [/DLMURL]

And Assisi is a wonderful place to visit too if you get the chance.

Hi Barafundle,

Thanks for the beautiful Welsh hymn (though it's not in Welsh either!) 😮

and Caveman, how wonderful to have been there on your honeymoon and felt something so special!

Judy

Hi Barafundle,

Thanks for the beautiful Welsh hymn (though it's not in Welsh either!) 😮

The title [url]Calon Lan [/url]was a link to the hymn in Welsh, Judy (here it is again, have a listen :)).

I've never been to Assissi, Caveman, but I hope to go one day and when I do I'll make sure I visit the tomb.

Hi Barafundle

Thanks very much for the wonderful posts on St Francis.

I also very much enjoyed the link to Calon Lan - beautiful words and it's a wonderful language and takes me back to some very happy times spent with my Welsh grandparents.

Luv Binah
x

And I very much enjoyed it too B! I remember her from the last time you posted

Judy

I was reading about Saint Francis today and came across these sayings attributed to him. Some of them I hadn't known before...

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.

It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.

No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.

While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.

What we are looking for is what is looking.

Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.