Saint Francis of Assisi: The enduring legacy of the Canticle of the Sun

Eight hundred years after his death, the legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi continues to resonate through his ‘Canticle of the Sun’. In September 1226, facing illness and blindness, the founder of the Franciscan Order dictated a final verse to his brothers at the Portiunkula chapel, known as the ‘death stanza’, which includes the line: ‘Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister, Bodily Death.’

Francis, often referred to as the ‘Poverello’, is remembered as a charismatic critic of societal systems. His teachings offered a universal message of peace and a radical critique of excess and the alienation of humanity from nature and one another. His hymn remains a significant cultural and spiritual work that continues to influence contemporary perspectives on environmentalism and human connection.