Saint Francis and the Birds

When Francis preached love to the birds
They listened, fluttered, throttled up
Into the blue like a flock of words

Released for fun from his holy lips.
Then wheeled back, whirred about his head,
Pirouetted on brothers’ capes.

Danced on the wing, for sheer joy played
And sang, like images took flight.
Which was the best poem Francis made,

His argument true, his tone light.

--Seamus Heaney (1939-2013), Irish poet, Northern Irish poet, Nobel Prize winner, Oxford Professor of Poetry, and one of the pre-eminent poets of the 20th century.

St. Francis of Assisi

Would I might wake St. Francis in you all,

Brother of birds and trees, God’s Troubadour,
Blinded with weeping for the sad and poor;
Our wealth undone, all strict Franciscan men,
Come, let us chant the canticle again
Of mother earth and the enduring sun.
God make each soul the lonely leper’s slave;
God make us saints, and brave.

--Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931),  American poet who wrote "singing poetry," meant to be sung or chanted. St. Francis's feast day is tomorrow, October 4.

Canticle of Creation

O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God,

   to you belong praise, glory,
   honour and all blessing.
Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation
   and especially for our Brother Sun,
   who brings us the day and the light;
   he is strong and shines magnificently.
   O Lord, we think of you when we look at him.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon,
   and for the stars
   which you have set shining and lovely
   in the heavens.
Be praised, my Lord,
   for our Brothers Wind and Air
   and every kind of weather
   by which you, Lord,
   uphold life in all your creatures.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water,
   who is very useful to us,
   and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
   through whom you give us light in the darkness:
   he is bright and lively and strong.
Be praised, my Lord,
   for Sister Earth, our Mother,
   who nourishes us and sustains us,
   bringing forth
   fruits and vegetables of many kinds
   and flowers of many colours.
Be praised, my Lord,
   for those who forgive for love of you;
   and for those
   who bear sickness and weakness
   in peace and patience
   - you will grant them a crown.
Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Death,
   whom we must all face.
   I praise and bless you, Lord,
   and I give thanks to you,
   and I will serve you in all humility.

--attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (ca 1181-1226)

When I Returned from Rome

A

bird took flight.

And a flower in a field whistled at me

as I passed.

I drank

from a stream of clear water.

And at night the sky untied her hair and I fell asleep

clutching a tress

of God's.

When I returned from Rome, all said,

"Tell us the great news,"

and with great excitement I did: "A flower in a field whistled,

and at night the sky untied her hair and

I fell asleep clutching

a sacred tress..."

-- St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), Italian saint, deacon, and founder of the Franciscan religious communities of the Order of Friars Minor, the Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of St. Francis, from Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, edited by Daniel Ladinsky.

Because He Gave Birth

So

precious

is a person's faith in God,

so precious;

never should we harm

that.

Because

He gave birth

to all

religions.

--St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), Italian saint, deacon, and founder of the Franciscan religious communities of the Order of Friars Minor, the Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of St. Francis, from Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, edited by Daniel Ladinsky.

The Absorbeat

May the power of your love, Lord Christ,
fiery and sweet as honey,
so absorb our hearts
as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven.
Grant that we may be ready
to die for love of your love,
as you died for love of our love.
Amen.

--medieval prayer said by St. Francis