Giovanni di Bernadone, born in 1182, nicknamed ‘Francesco’ by his father, was raised in a wealthy household. Francis led a carefree life participating in various revelries of the day. He joined a military expedition fighting as a soldier for Assisi and was taken prisoner, spending a year in captivity while also suffering illness. During this time Francis had a vision that directed him back to Assisi, where he lost all interest in that which he once enjoyed.
Through several personal experiences he came to desire a life of poverty, charity, and discipleship. According to legend, he was selling goods for his father in the marketplace when a beggar came asking for alms. Francis abandoned his wares and ran after the poor man giving him everything he had in his pockets. His father was troubled and angry at the exchange. His friends also began noticing a change in Francis and jokingly asked if he was “thinking of marrying” to which he responded “Yes, a fairer bride than any of you have ever seen,” meaning his “Lady Poverty.”
On a pilgrimage to Rome in 1205, he joined the poor in begging at the doors of churches. He had a vision of Christ saying to him, “Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.” He took this to mean the church in which he was presently praying and sold some cloth from his father’s store to assist the priest there. His father, angered once more, tried changing his mind—first through threats, then beatings. After this exchange, Francis renounced his father and embraced, even more, the life of a penitent.
He attracted a following of sympathetic Christians in the area of Assisi. On or around September 14, 1224, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, he had a vision and received a phenomenon known as the “stigmata,” the “wounds of Christ.” This and a problem with his eye led him to seek medical assistance, eventually returning to a small chapel in Assisi known as the Porziuncola, where he spent the remainder of his days.
Throughout his life Saint Francis appreciated the importance of church music and encouraged singing in his monastery. He wrote more than 60 hymns for this purpose. The beautiful expressions of praise in “All Creatures of Our God and King” have endured throughout the centuries.
St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. Although never ordained to the Catholic priesthood, he is one of the most revered religious figures in history.
To this day, St. Francis of Assisi is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. He is also known for his love of the Eucharist, his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and for creating the Christmas crèche or Nativity Scene. Legends about him abound and various stories, prayers, and visions are attributed to him.
In Francis’ last days, he became virtually blind and unable
to endure daylight. The first woman to follow his call, Sister Clara, built him
a small reed hut in the garden of her convent where he could live out the rest
of his days. He began to dictate his spiritual testament there. It is said that
Francis could be heard preaching to the birds, urging them to praise God. Those
who walked by could also hear faint melodies coming from within the hut. It was
at a meal with the sisters that he wrote the text “Canticle of the Sun” or “Song
of All Creatures,” later paraphrased into the beloved hymn that we sing today.
He died on the evening of October 3, 1226, while singing Psalm 142.
Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the entire Bible: The sun praises the Lord, the Creator of it, by doing the work constantly it is appointed to do; to rule by day, and give light and heat to the earth, and the inhabitants of it; and so is the cause of man's praising the Lord for the benefits they receive from it; for its enlightening, warming, and refreshing rays; and for the precious fruits brought forth by it and so the moon likewise doing its office, ruling by night, and reflecting the light of the sun upon the earth, and producing precious fruits, also praises its Maker, and is the occasion, of others praising Him.
Enduringword.com: The God of all creation can build and do what no one else can. He does not share the limitations of the creation; He makes the clouds His chariot and He walks on the wings of the wind . . . The picture described is full of activity and excitement. “The metaphor of His taking up its parts and powers as His robe, tent, palace and chariot invites us to see the world as something He delights in, which is charged with His energy and alive with His presence.” (Kidner) . . . “The Lord is surrounded by His servants, whether they be created like the angels or be powers inherent in His created order (winds, lightning). The Creator-King is, as it were, driving His chariot, symbolic of His governance of His creation.” (VanGemeren)
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: Fire is employed by Him - in lightnings - to accomplish His purpose as His ministers or His servants. They are entirely under His command. They are sent by Him to do His will; to carry out His designs. This is intended to describe the majesty and the power of God - that He can employ wind and lightning - tempest and storm - to go on errands such as He commands; to fulfill His plans; to do His bidding. For the application of this to the angels, and as employed by the apostle Paul to prove the inferiority of the angels to the Messiah.
Enduringword.com: “The experience of suffering was not taken away from the servant of God, but he was sustained, and so made strong enough to resist its pressure, and through it to make His service more perfect. This is how God ever sustains us in the bearing of burdens.” (Morgan) . . . “If I cast my burden upon the Lord, what business have I to carry it myself? How can I truthfully say that I have cast it upon Him if still I am burdened with it?” (Spurgeon)
Bibleref.com: [Peter} tells us to take all our anxieties, everything that worries us, and to give it to the God who cares so deeply for us. This is not a promise that God will fix everything which worries us. God is not obligated to follow whatever script we write for Him. It's a promise that the mighty God will receive our worries, and care about them. He will carry them for us. He is trustworthy to handle them in the way that is best.
Studylight.org, The Pulpit commentaries: Bishop Wordsworth notes that all kinds of faculty are engaged in the work of praise. The breath is employed in blowing the trumpet; the fingers are used in striking the strings of the psaltery and the harp; the whole hand is exerted in beating the timbrel; the feet move in the dance. The introduction of various musical instruments, as well as choirs of human voices, into the regular worship of the tabernacle and temple, is traceable to the time and probably to the personal influence of David. It is interesting, but only a matter of curiosity, to identify and describe the different instruments mentioned here. We need only see that they include all the musical instruments—wind, string, and clanging. The point to fix attention on is that, when a man wants to praise God, he may bring into his service every kind of power that he possesses, and every agency through which he can find expression for his power.
“Praise happens as a result of being forgiven, or finding an incredible insight, being filled with the Holy Spirit, or just experiencing the joy of our salvation. We can’t just conger up praise and make it happen. But when we experience God’s faithfulness, we can’t stop praise from pouring forth. It is not a posture or a position. It is the result of God’s reality breaking through to our dull awareness and making us new again and again. it is removing the obstacles in our own communications with God so that He can be the loving Father he always is. It is gratitude for what God is in our lives this day.” Gloria Gaither, Lovesongtomylife.com, Unstoppable Praise
