O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, angels of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, the heavens of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
  And you, clouds of the sky, O bless the Lord.
And you, all armies of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, sun and moon, O bless the Lord.
  And you, the stars of the heav'ns, O bless the Lord.
And you, showers and rain, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, all you breezes and winds, O bless the Lord.
  And you, fire and heat, O bless the Lord.
And you, cold and heat, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, showers and dew, O bless the Lord.
  And you, frosts and cold, O bless the Lord.
And you, frost and snow, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, night-time and day, O bless the Lord.
  And you, darkness and light, O bless the Lord.
  And you, lightning and clouds, O bless the Lord.

O let the earth bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, mountains and hills, O bless the Lord.
  And you, all plants of the earth, O bless the Lord.
And you, fountains and springs, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, rivers and seas, O bless the Lord.
  And you, creatures of the sea, O bless the Lord.
And you, every bird in the sky, O bless the Lord.
  And you, wild beasts and tame, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, children of men, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

O Israel, bless the Lord. O bless the Lord.
  And you, priests of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
And you, servants of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

And you, spirits and souls of the just, O bless the Lord.
  And you, holy and humble of heart, O bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Mizael, O bless the Lord.
  To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

Let us praise the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit:
  To you be highest glory and praise for ever.
May you be blessed, O Lord, in the heavens.
  To you be highest glory and praise for ever. (Daniel 3:57-88)

 Meditation 

Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon (St. Francis of Assisi)

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Musical Selection

September 2 

All people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.  If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them.  And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them.  For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.  Yet these people are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him.  For while they live among his works, they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful. (Wisdom 13:1-7)

Meditation

I do not want to write this Encyclical without turning to that attractive and compelling figure, whose name I took as my guide and inspiration when I was elected Bishop of Rome. I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically. He is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology, and he is also much loved by non-Christians. He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.

Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human. Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise. He communed with all creation, even preaching to the flowers, inviting them “to praise the Lord, just as if they were endowed with reason”. His response to the world around him was so much more than intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt called to care for all that exists. His disciple Saint Bonaventure tells us that, “from a reflection on the primary source of all things, filled with even more abundant piety, he would call creatures, no matter how small, by the name of ‘brother’ or ‘sister’”. Such a conviction cannot be written off as naive romanticism, for it affects the choices which determine our behaviour. If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs. By contrast, if we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety and care will well up spontaneously. The poverty and austerity of Saint Francis were no mere veneer of asceticism, but something much more radical: a refusal to turn reality into an object simply to be used and controlled.

What is more, Saint Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. “Through the greatness and the beauty of creatures one comes to know by analogy their maker” (Wis 13:5); indeed, “his eternal power and divinity have been made known through his works since the creation of the world” (Rom 1:20). For this reason, Francis asked that part of the friary garden always be left untouched, so that wild flowers and herbs could grow there, and those who saw them could raise their minds to God, the Creator of such beauty. Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise. (Laudato si’ [LS] Introduction; 10-12)

Musical Selection

All creatures of our God and King, 
Lift up your voice and with us sing, 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Thou burning sun with golden beam, 
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,

O praise Him! O praise Him! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Thou rushing wind that art so strong 
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Thou rushing morn in praise rejoice, 
Ye lights of evening find a voice,

Thou flowing water pure and clear 
Make music for Thy Lord to hear 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Thou fire so masterful and bright 
That givest man both warmth and light,

All ye men of tender heart 
Forgiving others take your part 
O sing ye! Alleluia! 
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, 
Praise God and on Him cast your care

Let all things their Creator bless, 
And worship Him in humbleness. 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son 
And praise the Spirit, Three in One  

September 3

Happy are those who find wisdom,
   and those who get understanding, 
 for her income is better than silver,
   and her revenue better than gold. 
 She is more precious than jewels,
   and nothing you desire can compare with her. 
 Long life is in her right hand;
   in her left hand are riches and honour. 
 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
   and all her paths are peace. 
 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
   those who hold her fast are called happy. 
 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
   by understanding he established the heavens; 
 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
   and the clouds drop down the dew. 
 My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
   keep sound wisdom and prudence, 
 and they will be life for your soul
   and adornment for your neck. 
 Then you will walk on your way securely
   and your foot will not stumble. (Proverbs 3:13-23)

Meditation