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Canticle of the Sun
Between 1225 and 1226, in the last year of his life, Francis of Assisi composed his celebrated "Canticle of the Sun" (also known as the "Canticle of the Creatures"), in which he gives voice to a feeling of appreciation for, and intimate closeness to, the sun, the moon, the earth, and all the elements of nature—which he addresses as "brother" and "sister."
Frank Missant's extensive knowledge of the art and culture of the Italian Middle Ages enables him to convey the esthetic spirit of that period in his stunning calligraphic interpretation of this spiritual classic.
Calligraphy (from the Greek for "beautiful writing") is an art where word and image meet, where the artist strives to give visual expression to the meaning of words in a way that transcends the text while remaining completely faithful to it. It is a discipline that has been invested with spiritual significance wherever it has arisen—and it has arisen throughout the world in every age, in virtually every language, culture, and religion.
The Shambhala Calligraphy series is a collection of books devoted to contemporary expressions of this "art of the word," featuring contemporary calligraphers' striking new interpretations of texts that have been traditional subjects for calligraphic interpretation. Whether in Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, or Chinese pictographs, the characters, words, and sentences are brought to life anew here in a choreography of mind, hand, and heart by which letter and spirit fuse in a single stroke.
Frank Missant's extensive knowledge of the art and culture of the Italian Middle Ages enables him to convey the esthetic spirit of that period in his stunning calligraphic interpretation of this spiritual classic.
Calligraphy (from the Greek for "beautiful writing") is an art where word and image meet, where the artist strives to give visual expression to the meaning of words in a way that transcends the text while remaining completely faithful to it. It is a discipline that has been invested with spiritual significance wherever it has arisen—and it has arisen throughout the world in every age, in virtually every language, culture, and religion.
The Shambhala Calligraphy series is a collection of books devoted to contemporary expressions of this "art of the word," featuring contemporary calligraphers' striking new interpretations of texts that have been traditional subjects for calligraphic interpretation. Whether in Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, or Chinese pictographs, the characters, words, and sentences are brought to life anew here in a choreography of mind, hand, and heart by which letter and spirit fuse in a single stroke.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1224
About the author
Francis of Assisi
249 books304 followersSaint Francis of Assisi in Italy as a Roman Catholic friar founded the Franciscan order in 1209 and inspired followers with his devotion, simple living, and love of nature; the pope canonized him in 1228.
A mother at Assisi bore him circa 1182, and he died in 1226.
People more commonly know the order of friars minor.
"To most people ... there is a fascinating inconsistency in the position of Saint Francis. He expressed in loftier and bolder language than any earthly thinker the conception that laughter is as divine as tears. He called his monks the mountebanks of God. He never forgot to take pleasure in a bird as it flashed past him, or a drop of water as it fell from his finger: he was, perhaps, the happiest of the sons of men. Yet this man undoubtedly founded his whole polity on the negation of what we think the most imperious necessities; in his three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, he denied to himself and those he loved most, property, love, and liberty. Why was it that the most large-hearted and poetic spirits in that age found their most congenial atmosphere in these awful renunciations? Why did he who loved where all men were blind, seek to blind himself where all men loved? Why was he a monk and not a troubadour? These questions are far too large to be answered fully here, but in any life of Francis they ought at least to have been asked; we have a suspicion that if they were answered we should suddenly find that much of the enigma of this sullen time of ours was answered also." --G.K. Chesterton
A mother at Assisi bore him circa 1182, and he died in 1226.
People more commonly know the order of friars minor.
"To most people ... there is a fascinating inconsistency in the position of Saint Francis. He expressed in loftier and bolder language than any earthly thinker the conception that laughter is as divine as tears. He called his monks the mountebanks of God. He never forgot to take pleasure in a bird as it flashed past him, or a drop of water as it fell from his finger: he was, perhaps, the happiest of the sons of men. Yet this man undoubtedly founded his whole polity on the negation of what we think the most imperious necessities; in his three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, he denied to himself and those he loved most, property, love, and liberty. Why was it that the most large-hearted and poetic spirits in that age found their most congenial atmosphere in these awful renunciations? Why did he who loved where all men were blind, seek to blind himself where all men loved? Why was he a monk and not a troubadour? These questions are far too large to be answered fully here, but in any life of Francis they ought at least to have been asked; we have a suspicion that if they were answered we should suddenly find that much of the enigma of this sullen time of ours was answered also." --G.K. Chesterton
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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July 10, 2022Very sweet brief calligraphic reinvigoration of Francis of Assisi - the Canticle of the Sun. I find a man that preaches to birds personally relatable & wish to deepen our relationship xx
May 4, 2015
Francis' poem/hymn and three stories from "The Little Flowers" are placed with Frank Missant's glorious calligraphy. A treat for the eyes and heart.
November 30, 2015
Love this work. I love poetry, the natural world, and God, and this beautiful canticle of praise has all three.
March 4, 2026
A beautiful little illustrated book of St. Francis' Canticle of the Sun, along with some of the fioretti (popular legends about his life) focused on his relationship with creation. Also included a short, interesting essay about calligraphy and the work of the calligrapher whose work the book contains.
June 5, 2020
7,5/10
December 4, 2022
Beautiful calligraphy adds to the enjoyment of reading the Canticle, The Sermon to the Birds, and Wolf of Gubbio. The author's story of how he learned the art of calligraphy is also worth the read.
November 8, 2024
Wichtige und interessante Texte, einschließlich des Nachworts. Wenn nur die Übersetzungen nicht so bleiern wären. Halt sehr dem Mittelalterbild des 19. Jahrhunderts verhaftet.
October 6, 2025
esencial para una ecología mística
July 26, 2026
Humblingly simple, it does not challenge any boundaries of language, nor does it need or try to. The personification of Mother Earth, Death, and the elements are interesting but not expounded upon, and make me want to look further into this type of thought in Catholicism.
My version had illustrations by Tony Wright, which were degenerate modern garbage. I will not be keeping it.
My version had illustrations by Tony Wright, which were degenerate modern garbage. I will not be keeping it.
January 12, 2008
one of the all time classics of literature that every educated person should read.
May 31, 2024
Such a beautiful read! Evocative of pagan themes, a brings home to me as a Christian the importance of enjoying the beautiful world around us.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews