The Real Prayer of St. Francis

I join Amy Welborn in her annnual lament: the prayer attributed to St. Francis was written by WWI pacifists, and it had nothing to do with him.

The prayer he actually did write has bit more bite than the sappy-Hippie versions of the man allow, which would account for its disfavor with liberals:

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 human 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. 

And 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 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, who 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 our Sister Mother Earth, 

who sustains and governs us, 

and who produces varied fruits 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, shall they be crowned. 

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, 

from whom no one living 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 and give Him thanks 

and serve Him with great humility. 

Mortal sin, the death of the soul- these make people uncomfortable, but St. Francis was not about comfort. On the 800th Anniversary of this prayer, let's finally find his REAL heart in penitence rather than merely ecological awareness.