During this 800th year anniversary of St. Francis writing the Canticle of the Creatures, find here reflections from Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission and Pastoral Care, Felician Village and Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Laura Wolf on one of the stained-glass windows in Blessed Mary Angela Chapel, Felician Village, Manitowooc, Wisconsin.
Felician Village is a ministry of the Felician Sisters of North America, who are a congregation of Third Order Regular Sisters, just like the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. This ministry is part of the Franciscan tradition that reverences all of creation. Our chapel windows give us insight into the beautiful writing of St. Francis from 800 years ago, his Canticle of the Creatures. We also, as a ministry, work to ensure that we are upholding the concerns for creation outlined in Laudato Si’, written by Pope Francis. This encyclical uses words from St. Francis to remind us of our urgency today to continue to care for all that God has given us. Our focus on a sustainable future means that we have accomplished such actions as eliminating the use of Styrofoam, offering reusable plates and cups in our café, and replacing all lightbulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs. As we emphasize the power of St. Francis’s care for creation, we encourage each other to engage in sustainable practices, spiritual transformation, and advocacy. May St. Francis’s words be our reminder that God created our surroundings, the animals, water, plants, and people, who are all in our care. And may God continue to bless the lives and work of all Franciscan religious.
-Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission and Pastoral Care, Felician Village
Praise be to you, my Lord, with all your
creatures, especially Sir Brother Son,
who is the day and through whom You give
us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great
splendor.
and bears a likeness of You,
Most High One
It is ironic that Francis began the Canticle with a reflection on “Sir Brother Sun” for it was the sun that gave him much pain and discomfort In the latter years of his life Francis suffered from an affliction of the eyes which made his eyes water constantly and react painfully in direct sunlight. Francis often hid from the Sun and spent his days inside his hut coming out to pray at dawn or dusk. Yet in his love of all creation, he declared Brother Sun “more beautiful than all other creatures and can most closely be compared to God” Francis identified that the gift of light that is beautiful and radiant with splendor made him most like the Son of the Most High God.
Perhaps the lesson Francis teaches us is that which causes us pain, sorrow and discomfort in our lives may also bring us joy and peace and closeness to God!
Pax et Bonum! – Sister Laura Wolf, OSF
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