St Francis of Assisi for the environment

Thank God we are all becoming more conscious of the environment, of its beauty, its fragility, and our responsibility for it.

It wasn't always like this in the earth's history, but neither was it so touch and go at the beginning of things. The first man and the first woman were put into a garden that God had created for them, and that God, considering what He had made, decided that it was a very good job: "And God saw that it was good." God liked what He saw.

The rest is history. Man's hand has lain heavily upon creation. Man has often worried about the ugliness that blots out beauty by piecemeal encroachment. Keeping a balance between use and respect is not always easy for man because of his greed. Francis of Assisi changed the way we see the world, because of his tenderness, his deep sentiments, his oneness with the One, his liberating humility, poverty and chastity.

"Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom you give us light." Francis begins his list of creatures with the mighty Sun, as Lord of creation, using the language and sentiments of chivalry and courtly love. He will do the same with all other creatures. The Canticle of the Creatures reads like a charter for a respectful use of creatures and of the world that God has entrusted to us.

Since Pope John Paul II proclaimed Francis of Assisi the patron of ecology in 1980, groups such as the World Wildlife Fund have held major meetings in Assisi. Christians and non-Christians see in Francis a pace-setter, an eye-opening prophet, a poet with a beautiful vision. It is not just that Francis appreciates the creatures that inhabit our world: he falls down on his knees reverently, recognising affinity between himself and all creatures, an interdependence. He acknowledges God's handiwork in their beauty.

Francis does not agree with the view that the world and all its attractions are sinful, and he does not consider the body sinful. Christ became part of this world, took human body, even consecrated things like water, and oil, and bread and wine for use in the sacraments. It is through seemingly ordinary things like these that Christ comes to us and stays present in his church.

Francis welcomed even Sister Death, seeing her as the gateway to eternal life. Death held no fear for him. Why should she? She is such a kind and welcome sister of ours, opening the door to the Eternal Sun's warmth.

On April 29, 1228, with the Papal Bull Recolentes Gregory IX announced that he had decided to build a specialis ecclesia, a special church, in honour of Francis. Three months later, on July 16, he went to Assisi in person to canonise Francis. The Bull Mira circa nos of July 19 declared Francis of Assisi a saint and fixed his feast day for the universal Church on October 4.

On that occasion Gregory IX laid the foundation stone of the basilica he ordered to be built on the collis inferni, in the western part of the town, which he renamed collis paradisi, hell becoming heaven through the presence of Francis's corpse. Even in his death Francis continued to see beautiful grace where men saw the ugliness of sin.

The triple church was built in record time, under the direct care of friar Elias. The body was buried in a crypt, and two basilicas were superimposed. The lower church received the solemn translation of St Francis's relics on May 25, 1230.

In 1939 Francis was proclaimed patron saint of Italy. Pope John Paul II proclaimed him patron of ecology in 1980.

He would be hard to replace.

In an ecstatic lauda which St Francis composed after receiving the stigmata of Christ on the mountain of La Verna, he burst into admiration, twice repeating, "You are beauty... You are beauty!".

St Bonaventure comments: "In things of beauty, he contemplated the One who is supremely beautiful, and, led by the footprints he found in creatures, he followed the Beloved everywhere".

The Canticle of Creatures

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honour
And all blessing.
To you alone, Most High do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy
To pronounce your name.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
through all that you have made.
And first, my Lord Brother Sun,
Who brings the day; and light you give us through him.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendour!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
By which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our Mother,
Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
Various fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
All praise be Yours, my Lord, through those who endure
sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
By You, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,
From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing Your will!
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.