800 Years Later, the Canticle of Creation is More Relevant than Ever
He is the patron saint of ecology and animals. His likeness can be seen on birdbaths and garden statues. But St. Francis’ beliefs about creation, humankind and God are more profound than the stories of preaching to the birds and taming the wolf of Gubbio. Francis believed that creation resulted from God’s love and that humans are not separate from but interconnected with all of creation, a vision that developed through years of contemplation.
He spells this out in his Canticle of Creation, marking its 800th Anniversary this year. It is probably St. Francis’ best-known writing, and he wrote it when he was ill, blind and close to Sister Death. The Canticle is often referred to as a “thank you note to God,” Daniel Horan wrote in a recent article for National Catholic Reporter, that Francis was very intentional in his writing. Horan says it speaks of “Each aspect of creation gives praise to God by being and doing what it was created for.” Another popular interpretation is that Francis called for us to be stewards of creation. Ilia Delio OSF wrote that “Francis’ respect for creation was not a duty or obligation but arose out of an inner love by which creation and the source of creation – God – were intimately united.”
Several years after writing the main poem, Francis added lines about peace. Delio writes that Francis’ view of creation stemmed from his sense of justice and that “justice and peace are related to poverty, compassion, contemplation and ongoing conversion…”
These are all important messages for today. Massive storms, flooding, drought and fires result from climate change brought about by our human behavior. We are disconnected from nature and therefore, from God. If we are to make Peace with Creation as called for during this Season of Creation, we must care for creation as we care for ourselves. Proposals to reconsider EPA regulations protecting water and air and to undo findings that climate pollution is a health hazard will only add to our war with ourselves.
