Tuesday is the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Here is his great “Canticle of Creation”, probably composed in late 1224 while recovering from an illness at San Damiano just outside the city.

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, and all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste. 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 Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those who will find Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.

With the royal funeral, we may have almost forgotten that we have a new Prime Minister.

Here are some thoughts from the late Sister Joan Chittister OSB, written probably before a US presidential election, but relevant for us now too…

Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls
Strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.

In seeking a leader, let us seek
More than development for ourselves - though development we hope for
More than security for our own land - though security we need
More than satisfaction for our own wants - though many things we desire.

Give us the hearts to choose the leader who will work with other leaders
To bring safety to the whole world.

Give us leaders who lead this nation to virtue
Without seeking to impose our kind of virtue on the virtue of others.

Give us a government that provides for the advancement of this country
Without taking resources from others to achieve it.

Give us insight enough ourselves to choose as leaders those who can tell
Strength from power, growth from greed,
Leadership from dominance, and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.

We trust you, Great God, to open our hearts to learn from those
To whom you speak in different tongues and to respect the life and words
Of those to whom you entrusted the good of other parts of this globe.

We beg you, Great God, give us the vision as a people
To know where global leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently,
To require it to protect human rights for everyone everywhere.
We ask these things, Great God, with minds open to your word
And hearts that trust in your eternal care. 

~ Sister Joan Chittister OSB

St Brigid’s Church will stay open this Saturday, 17 September, from 10am until midday. Parishioners of 3 Churches and residents from our local communities can light a candle and pray for the repose of the soul of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Please come at any time between 10am and midday and stay for as short or as long a time as you wish.