Prayers for Creation

The Canticle of Creation 

O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God,
to you belong praise, glory,
honour and all blessing.
Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation
and especially for our Brother Sun,
who brings us the day and the light;
he is strong and shines magnificently.
O Lord, we think of you when we look at him. 

Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon,
and for the stars
which you have set shining and lovely
in the heavens.
Be praised, my Lord,
for our Brothers Wind and Air
and every kind of weather
by which you, Lord,
uphold life in all your creatures. 

Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water,
who is very useful to us,
and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom you give us light in the darkness:
he is bright and lively and strong. 

Be praised, my Lord,
for Sister Earth, our Mother,
who nourishes us and sustains us,
bringing forth
fruits and vegetables of many kinds
and flowers of many colours. 

Be praised, my Lord,
for those who forgive for love of you;
and for those
who bear sickness and weakness
in peace and patience
- you will grant them a crown. 

Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Death,
whom we must all face.
I praise and bless you, Lord,
and I give thanks to you,
and I will serve you in all humility. 

                                ~ St. Francis of Assisi 

Sioux Prayer

Grandfather Great Spirit,

all over the world the faces of living ones are alike.

With tenderness they have come up out of the ground.

Look upon your chidren they they may

face the winds and walk the good road to the Day of Quiet.

Grandfather Great Spirit,

fill us with the Light.

Give us the strength to understand,

and the eyes to see.

Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live.

Hebrew Prayer

Grant me the ability to be alone;

May it be my custom to go outdoors each day

among the trees and grasses,

among all growing things

and there may I be alone,

and enter into prayer

to talk with the One

that I belong to.

                        ~ Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav

Hindu Prayer for Peace
Oh God, lead us from the
unreal to the Real.

Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.

Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in
celestial regions.

May there be peace on Earth.
May the waters be appeasing.

May herbs be wholesome, and may trees
plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent
beings bring peace to us.

May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all
and may that peace come to me also.


Ancient Persian Prayer
Lord, the air smells good today,
straight from the mysteries
within
the garden
of God.
The trees in their prayer,
the birds in praise,
the first blue violets,
kneeling.
                    ~ Rumi

 

 

I am the dust in the sunlight, I am the ball of the sun
I am the mist of morning, the breath of evening
I am the spark in the stone, the gleam of gold in the metal
The rose and the nightingale drunk with its fragrance
I am the chain of being, the circle of the spheres
The scale of creation, the rise and the fall
I am what is and is not
I am the soul in all

- Rumi