Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures: A Modern Spiritual Path

Francis of Assisi is one of the best-loved Christian spiritual teachers and his closeness to the natural world and its creatures has inspired generations. One of his most famous prayers, "The Canticle of the Creatures", sings of the elements of creation in their relationship to the Divine. In this study, the authors examine the life of St Francis and show how this hymn can be used as a spiritual path in meditative practice. They also study the hymn in relation to the spiritual hierarchies of Dionysius, the ninefold path, the music of Bach and Beethoven, the work of Rudolf Steiner, and the Kabbalah.