By Richard Rohr

The Irish poet Galway Kinnell describes Francis as  ¢â‚¬Å“re-teaching things their loveliness. ¢â‚¬  In his poem  ¢â‚¬Å“St. Francis and the Sow, ¢â‚¬  Francis tells a large female pig through words and touch and blessing that she is indeed beautiful ¢â‚¬”she just can ¢â‚¬â„¢t see it. Most of us cannot see it either, unfortunately.

We all have to be mirrors like this, not just for nature, but for one another ¢â‚¬”and especially for those who cannot see the bud of possibility within them, those who hate themselves, those who ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been abused, those who ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been imprisoned, those who think they are no good, those who ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been discriminated against ¢â‚¬”anyone who feels unworthy in one way or another.

Those are the ones that we have to positively mirror like Francis mirrored the sow. We must  ¢â‚¬Å“re-teach all things their loveliness. ¢â‚¬  That could be your one and only life calling!

The biographies of Francis point out that when he talked to animals and to natural things (sun, moon, wind, etc.), it was precisely as spiritual beings who were worthy of being addressed as equals and who could somehow understand. Francis seems to believe that there is a real knowing passing between all creatures and that the animals have a kind of consciousness that they can give to us. Have you ever let an animal hold a soft gaze with your eyes? I know it from my black lab, Venus, and from other animals I have encountered in nature. It is somehow healing and connecting at a deep level. And it is always compassionate!

That is the healing power of nature, and it has been largely ignored in the history of Christian spirituality, as has been the entire ministry of healing itself. When you allow the natural world to mirror you and to name your soul, it gives you the courage to return the compliment, as it were. Then you can turn toward the Light, which has named and created both of you, together. The morning glories and the sunflowers turn naturally toward the light, but we have to be taught, it seems.

In  ¢â‚¬Å“The Canticle of the Sun ¢â‚¬  Francis consistently uses the Italian preposition per, by which he is saying that God is praised through (not for) the very existence of the sun, moon, stars, wind, air, weather, water, fire and earth.

This is significant and telling. Their very existence gives glory whether any human ever sees them, honors them, or recognizes them as good.

Do you ever think that you are the only human eye that will focus on this particular marigold or squirrel and say  ¢â‚¬Å“thank you! ¢â‚¬ ? Think of all the wildflowers and trees and animals in mountains and forest that gorgeously live and die, and no human eye needs to see them, need them, use them, or praise them. They are already an act of praise by their naked and pure existence.

From In the Footsteps of Francis: Awakening to Creation webcast

Starter Prayer:

Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures