The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Foresta is a site on the Cammino de San Francesco, 2.5 miles from Rieti, where St. Francis of Assisi stopped in the fall of 1225 while travelling to Rieti to have his eyes treated. Francis was here to get away from the the many demands of his many followers and he stayed as the guest of the Parish Priest in a house next to the little church of St. Fabiano.
This gate marks the entrance to a cave below the house where Francis stayed. He retreated to this cave to escape the eye irritation caused by smoke in the house from an unvented fireplace. Legend has it that St. Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures in this cave.
This is the view from outside the cave.
Here is the English translation of the Canticle of the Creatures made by William H. Draper (1855-1933) for a children’s Pentecost celebration. It is the version found in many hymnals with the harmonization by Ralph Vaughn Williams.
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
O praise Him! O praise Him
!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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