Canticle of the Sun
Canticle of the Sun
Marion Parsons’ Songbook
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Through sun my brother, praised be you my Lord
He is our day and our hope through the night
In splendour, radiance, beauty, and majesty
Portrays to us the one in whom is all light.
Through moon my sister, praised be you my Lord
Until the morning may she her vigil keep
Through stars my sisters, bright, fair, and ancient
The children of the one in whom is all sleep.
To the most high Lord, the all-powerful, the good one
Belongs all the praise of the earth and above
Hallelujah! No mortal lips can say
The name of the one in whom is all love.
Through wind my brother, praised be you my Lord
In calm, in storm, through nature’s every face
Through air my sister, all things living
Are cherished by the one in whom is all grace.
Through water my sister, praised be you my Lord
Humble and useful in purity sweet
Through fire my brother, strong and playful
The good gift of the one in whom is all heat.
Through earth my sister, praised be you my Lord
Our home and provider and fruit and seed and wood
Sustains and governs us, shelters and mothers us
Beloved of the one in whom is all good.
Through all my brothers who for the love of you
Forgive and endure though their sufferings increase
Through all my sisters whose mercy and humility
Are blessed by the one in whom is all peace.
Through all your creatures, praised be you my Lord
Through all things living, and through my sister death
Though none escape her, blessed are they she finds doing
The will of the one in whom is all breath.
Chords: (4/4)
Em Am B7
Through sun my brother, praised be you my Lord
Em Am B7
He is our day and our hope through the night
Em Am B7
In splendour, radiance, beauty, and majesty
Em Am B7 Em
Portrays to us the one in whom is all light.
Em Am B7
To the most high Lord, the all-powerful, the good one
Em Am B7
Belongs all the praise of the earth and above
Em Am B7
Hallelujah! No mortal lips can say
Em Am B7 Em
The name of the one in whom is all love.
•Lyrics and music © 1998
•Based on a prayer by St. Francis from 1224
•See bottom of the page for chords and comments
I cowrote this song with St. Francis of Assisi; you can see his first draft of the lyrics here: Canticle of the Creatures.