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Celebrating the Attitude of Gratitude

11/21/2012

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The Beatitudes/The Canticle of the Sun

St. Francis was surely borrowing from imagery as ancient as King David's Psalms when he wrote his song of praise, the Canticle of the Sun.  In studying the Greek, there are some interesting parallels between the Beatitudes, declared by Christ in his sermon on the mount, (Matthew 5:3-12) and St. Francis' Canticle.   I used to think  the Beatitudes taught balance, or moderation.   More study changed my opinion: a closer reading reveals extremes, not balance, and passion--not passivity.  Brothers Wind and Fire and Sisters Water and Earth are also apparent in the Beatitudes, so here are the first four of Christ's Beatitudes juxtaposed with a section of the Canticle of St. Francis.   Christ  reveals here the spiritual effect of the lack of these four elements, while St. Francis celebrates their part in God's Creation.  The paraphrasing of the Beatitudes that I have rendered here is intended to incorporate some of the nuances of the Greek text.   Air, Water, Fire and Earth appear in the same order in both the Beatitudes and the Canticle--probably not coincidentally, the same order as in the Creation account in Genesis.    



BEATITUDE:  How enriched are those who pant and gasp for the breath of the spirit, for theirs are the vast winds of Heaven!

CANTICLE:  Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

BEATITUDE:  How enriched are those who have watered their faces with tears while crying out, for they will be called to God's side!

CANTICLE:  Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

BEATITUDE:  How enriched are those whose fever to acquire the stuff of earth has been quenched, for they will inherit the earth!

CANTICLE:  Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

BEATITUDE:  How enriched are those who are famished and ravenous to fulfull righteousness, for they will be satisfied!

CANTICLE:   Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.


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What's Been Going On

11/6/2012

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Autumn is a season of transition, and so my writing, my activities, and the website  are also undergoing transition.   

Coming soon:  An update on Faith Works Weekend--I finally collected some much-treasured photos, despite having my hands far too full for cameras and various Facebook slowdowns.  A fantastic welcome from my dear friends in Letcher County won't soon be forgotten!  A certain three-year-old cowboy and his Deaf grandmother will be coming back with reinforcements, for sure!

Second, three books have already been sent on their way to thank participants in the website re-organization.  Still in the works:  a page devoted to introducing Rich Mullins to new visitors to the website. 

Third,  in case you missed it, a third book about Rich Mullins is in the works.  Singing from Silence is about feelings.  Walk Through the Valley is about healing.  The book on creativity, Let the Mountains Sing, is still in the works, but will be published later than I had originally anticipated.   

Fourth, for those of you who haven't heard, the new film about Rich Mullins has been titled, Ragamuffin.  It is expected to be released in Summer of 2013. 

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    Pam Richards

    God help me, I'm an artist.

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