Tag: History

The Canticle of the Sun by Saint Francis of Assisi

In a dark room near Assisi, Francis found light—turning sickness into a hymn where even death became sister.

In 1224, Francis of Assisi was sick, weak, and almost blind. He stayed in a small hut near San Damiano, close to Clare and his brothers. Life was slipping away, but his heart was still burning. Out of that darkness came light—a hymn of joy, calling the sun his brother, the moon his sister, even death his friend.

This hymn, The Canticle of the Sun, is one of the earliest pieces of Italian writing. But more than history, it is a vision of the world as family—everything and everyone pointing back to God.

The Canticle of the Sun (Laudes Creaturarum, or Canticle of the Creatures) by Saint Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light. He is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven You formed them clear, 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, who is very useful, humble, precious, and chaste. Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night. He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored 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 whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility.

ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Old

Old doesn’t mean done. Saint Theodore of Tarsus proved that age can still build, lead, and leave a mark no one else can.

What Saint Theodore of Tarsus teaches about age

In the seventh century, average life expectancy was barely forty. At fifty you were ancient. At sixty you were expected to stay quiet, wait for death, and disappear.

But Theodore of Tarsus was sixty-six when Rome chose him to be Archbishop of Canterbury. He was only a monk in Rome, known for his learning. A scholar, not a bishop. To take the post, he first had to be ordained—all in one quick step, before being sent across the sea.

England’s Church was weak and divided. They needed a leader to bring order. People thought Theodore was too old. Too late. Too weak. Too close to the grave.

He could have believed them. He could have stayed behind. Instead, he crossed the sea and started again. He fixed what was broken. He gathered leaders. He built a school that lit up Europe. Younger men died before him, but he kept going. He lived to eighty-eight.

That is the truth of old. It feels heavy. It feels lonely. People look past you. Sometimes you even look past yourself. But inside, there is still fire.

Today, the world worships youth. The old are pushed aside. Many stop believing they can still matter. But the story of Saint Theodore of Tarsus says otherwise. Old doesn’t mean done. Old means tested. Old means strong. Old means you still carry something no one else can.

Old • Darem Placer

ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Thoughts drift like clouds across a fading sky, until you find yourself in a quiet room—Alone with a Piano.

Listen to Alone with a Piano on Apple Music and YouTube Music

Alone with a Piano includes Old