Feast Of St. Francis

Happy feast day to you!  I have a great fondness for St. Francis. He has been a wonderful intessory saint for my family and our relationship with The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal has been an enormous blessing. Did I ever mention to you all that Ryan's picture hangs in each of their convents? My little priest, so happy in heaven with St. Francis I am sure.

So we have a busy day scheduled but I needed to get some feast day happiness in there, so our day began with the Prayer of Saint Francis.  Then we spoke a little of St. Francis' love of nature. A love we won't be partaking of today since it is pouring out. Again. 

Then while the children colored their St. Francis coloring pages (Thank you lovely Charlotte -  have you seen Charlotte's new little one? Beautiful.) I read to them St. Francis of Assisi, A Life of Joy by Robert F. Kennedy and illustrated by Dennis Nolan (who is well known for his illustrations of Bruce Coville's retelling of Shakespeare's plays). 

After that the school day began but I just now slid a St. Francis Tonsure Cake in the oven and the house is starting to smell like chocolate. Mmmm. That will be for dessert. Which will likely be eaten is shifts. Tuesday is that kind of day.  Since Italian food is appropriate but Tuesday is not conducive to a sit down dinner for us all I will just make homemade pizzas and keep them in the warming oven so that my step dancers and youth group people can eat as they arrive.

So there you have it, a simple little celebration for a great saint.  I hope that you can find time today to speak to your children about this great man and the life of extraordinary virtue he lived.

Here are the words to the beautiful Canticle of the Sun written by St. Francis.

 

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 bright, 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.