This Sunday, Holy Apostles will join with churches across the country and all over the world in observing a Season of Creation. The weeks of September have been designated as a time for communities to be intentional in their honoring of God’s creation. The themes for each Sunday are “Pray,” “Learn,” “Act,” and “Advocate.” We will be participating through our liturgy with special prayers, including a Eucharistic Prayer that focuses especially on themes and images from the natural world.
Our Bishop Matt Heyd has urged all congregations in this diocese to mark this season in some way. For more information, please visit the EDNY Creation Care website: creationcare.episcopalny.org. As an introduction to this time of focus on God’s regenerative work through the natural world, I share the beautiful, mystical words of The Canticle of the Creatures, written in 1224 by St. Francis of Assisi:
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.
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 to us through him.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright
And precious and fair.
All praise be yours, My Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods,
By which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, lowly, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
Through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful is he, how gay! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,
Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
For love of you; 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.
Happy Autumn!
