By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-13 18:11:08 | Updated at 2025-01-14 11:35:15
17 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Franciscans and the Catholic faithful celebrated the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s famous hymn “Canticle of Creatures” on Jan. 11, at three different locations: the Sanctuary of San Damiano, the Sanctuary of the Renunciation in Assisi, and the saint’s tomb in the Basilica of Saint Francis.
An English translation of a press release from the Diocese of Assisi states that Brother Francesco Piloni, OFM, provincial minister for Umbria and Sardinia, opened the Centenary celebration at the Canticle Hall in the Sanctuary of San Damiano.
The Canticle Hall lies next to a garden and a small hut where St. Francis had stayed. “Despite the blindness that marked the final years of his life,” Brother Piloni said, “the Canticle reflects the deep gaze of faith that recognizes the beauty of creation as a reflection of divine perfection.”
Then, the Canticle was read and sung, accompanied by clarinet. The General Minsters of several branches of the Franciscan order commented on each of the lines.
Brother Massimo Fusarelli, OFM general minister, reflected on the sun, which St. Francis describes as “beautiful and radiant with great splendor: of You, Most High, it bears the significance.”
Brother Fusarelli commented, “In these words, we find a key to understanding the entire Canticle: the sun and all creatures are signs of God, they ‘bear significance’ of Him, they speak to us of Him if we look at them with the right eyes, illuminated by faith and fixed on Jesus Christ, the Sun of Justice rising from on high.”
Brother Simone Calvarese, Provincial Minister of the Friars Minor Capuchin of Central Italy, presided over the next part of the celebration at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation. This part of the celebration focused on the themes of forgiveness and death in the Canticle.
Brother Amando Trujillo Cano, General Minister of the Third Order Regular, commented on the theme of forgiveness.
“The Canticle does not only speak of the beauty of Nature but also of the struggles of human history,” Brother Cano said. “If there is praise for forgiveness, it means there are wrongs to forgive, as well as illnesses and tribulations.”
Brother Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira, vicar of the Friars Minor Capuchin, added a reflection on death.
“Even in the face of death, Francis can say, ‘Laudato si’, mi’ Signore.’ What explains Francis’s attitude, his ability to always offer praise? His secret lies in faith in a God who is ‘the good, all good, supreme good, who alone is good.’ Only such faith can explain this constant praise, which recognizes that all comes from God and that every good is returned to Him in thanksgiving and praise.”
Finally, the faithful went to the tomb of St. Francis at the basilica bearing his name to venerate his relics. The oldest copy of the Canticle was also displayed at the Basilica.
