On 18th June 1939, San Francesco d'Assisi, Saint Francis of Assisi was named the Patron Saint of Italy, alongside Saint Catherine of Siena. For many years, today, the 4th of October, would have been a national holiday held in honour of San Francesco d'Assisi, but times have changed and unfortunately for the Italians, they no longer get the day off.
San Francesco d'Assisi wrote this poem in 1224, and it is one of the first poems to have ever been written in an Italian dialect, Umbrian, as opposed to Latin.
Cantico di Frate Sole
Altissimu, onnipotente, bon Signore,
tue so’ le laude, la gloria et l’honore et onne benedictione.
Ad te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentovare.
Laudato sie, mi’ Signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate sole,
lo qual’è jorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu et radiante cum grande splendore:
de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora luna e le stelle:
in celu l’ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per frate vento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale a le tue creature dài sustentamento.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sor’aqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per frate focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
et ello è bello et iocundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora nostra matre terra,
la quale ne sustenta et governa,
et produce diversi fructi con coloriti flori et herba.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo tuo amore
et sostengo infirmate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke ‘l sosterrano in pace,
ka da te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora nostra morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo vivente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trovarà ne le tue sanctissime voluntati,
ka la morte secunda no ‘l farrà male.
Laudate e benedicete mi’ Signore et rengratiate
e serviateli cum grande humilitate.
Canticle of the Brother Sun
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord,
all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, for all your creatures,
especially for my lord brother sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor:
of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars:
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, for brother wind
and for air, and clouds, and clear skies, and all weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, for sister water,
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for brother fire,
through whom you brighten the night:
he is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, for our sister mother earth,
who feeds us and sustains us,
and produces various fruits with colorful flowers, and grass.
Be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for love of you,
and who endure sickness and affliction.
Happy those who endure all of this in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, for our sister bodily death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will,
for the second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
