A quick drawing I did of the Canticle of Creation-- People here like it too much. I'll try to do something much better.
One above all other, most powerful, utterly good God,
All the praise glory, honor and blessing belong to you before anyone else.
They are yours alone, we are not good enough to even speak your name.
May all your creation and its creatures praise you.
First and foremost, Brother Sun,
Who brings the day, and who you created to shine light on life.
He is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor.
His majesty points to you.
Sister Moon too, shouts your name,
And the stars of the whole universe as you formed them,
shining clear and precious and beautiful.
In Brother Wind blows the sound of your name,
Through the air, stormy and still,
And every kind of weather, which feeds and waters the land,
Sustaining the tapestry of the life you created.
Sister Water praises you too,
Water, which is vital to life,
Simple and yet precious and pure.
Praise to you is heard in the roar of Brother Fire,
Through him you give light and warmth in the dark, cold night,
He is entrancing, playful yet powerful, even dangerous.
Sister, Mother Earth, on whom life flourishes,
She who provides the rhythm of life and the sustenance we need,
Her rich colors, sweet flavors, and aromatic herbs,
Paint a picture of your goodness.
We lift our eyes to you,
Through the stories of those who suffer,
And endure pain who yet still love you,
Through the peace of those great people,
Who deserve your honor above the rest of us.
Even in Sister Death, the death of our bodies,
Which is inescapable for every single one of us,
We sing the greatness of your name.
It is terrible to die in the grip of greed and selfish living
Yet those who die in the knowledge of your great love and purpose,
Even thought they too cannot escape the death of the body,
They will continue to live with you, they have nothing further to fear.
We shout your name out loud,
We thank you for all life,
May we follow you and serve your purpose with the utmost humility. Amen.
Original text in Umbrian dialect:
Altissimu, onnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.
Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e 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 Uento
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'Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke 'l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
