HYMN of the MONTH

Hymn of the Month Archives

All Creatures of Our God and King
Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon


All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing!
Oh, praise ye! Alleluia!
O brother sun with golden beam
And sister moon with silver gleam!
Oh, praise ye! Oh, praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O brother wind, air, clouds, and rain,
by which all creatures ye sustain:
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening find a voice!
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O sister water, flowing clear
Make music for your Lord to hear :
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
O brother fire who lights the night,
Providing warmth, enhancing sight,
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
The flow'rs and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them God's glory also show!
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All ye who are of tender heart
Forgiving others, take your part,
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care.
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And thou, our sister, gentle death,
Waiting to hush our final breath,
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way has trod.
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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

WORDS: Francis of Assisi,trans. Wm H. Draper MUSIC: Geistliche Kirchengesange,harm by R. V. Williams Tune Name: LASST UNS ERFREUEN More UM hymn tunes by by R. V. Williams: 152 FOREST GREEN I Sing the Almighty Power of God 164 THE CALL Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life 711 SINE NOMINE For All the Saints 168 KING'S WESTON At the Name of Jesus 179 KINGSFOLD O Sing a Song of Bethlehem 324 SALVE FESTE DIES Hail Thee, Festival Day 475 DOWN AMPNEY Come Down, O Love Divine 642 SUSSEX CAROL As Man and Woman We Were Made

One of the great English composers, Ralph ( pronounced "Rafe" according to English tradition and his own insistence) Vaughan Williams was born at Down Ampney in 1872 and died aged 85 in 1958. He studied piano and theory at Trinity College, Cambridge and later in Paris with Maurice Ravel. His keen interest in folk-song led to several large collections and many lovely arrangements. His prodigious output includes chamber music, choral music, church music (hymns and liturgy), folksong collections, keyboard works for piano and organ, orchestral, dance and ballet music, film scores, operas, concerti and symphonies. The inspired wedding of this tune, LASST UNS ERFREUEN (Let us Rejoice), with the magnificent poetry of St Fancis is one of the most beautiful of his many gifts to us.

"We are to be instruments of change and heralds of peace in a broken world, serving all people, especially the poor and marginalized, through reconciliation and healing. Rejecting greed, manipulation, and consumerism, we commit ourselves to a life style that effectively witnesses the Gospel values of simplicity, joy, and brotherhood." from the Mission Statement of the Franciscans

St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226, patron saint of ecology, whose Feast Day in the Catholic tradition is October 4, was born in Italy into considerable wealth and, in his youth, indulged himself fully at every turn, though repeatedly visited by the desire for some greater purpose. Eventually a serious illness changed his course and he began seriously to seek another path. While praying in the ancient ruins of the church at San Damiano, he felt a call to "rebuild the church", which he initially interpreted quite literally. His understanding grew and deepened over the years, ever centered upon following in Christ's footstep, from selling all his worldly goods and giving to the poor (an action to which his father objected strenuously), to the taking up the cross daily, however it might present itself. His joyful assumption of poverty, and his affinity for all of nature, attracted many followers; today the Franciscan community, "the order of lesser brothers", is a global brotherhood.

(The Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon was written near the end of Francis' life as he faced blindness.)

A Prayer of Francis of Assisi "O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."