Sister Moon and Stars

 Author's Note:  Several years ago I was asked by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, whose Motherhouse is in Bay Settlement on the eastern side of the Green Bay, to offer reflections on the Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis.  I shared the reflections during an evening gathering that the good sisters call "Silence and Sunset".  After a recent call from the community for a copy of the talk, I decided that I would post them as a series in Embers over the next few weeks.  I highly encourage you to read St Francis' poem as a foundation, and consider these 'companion pieces' to help you reflect more deeply on what the good Saint has to tell us.        

Sister Moon and Stars

"To Him who made the great lights, God’s love endures forever:

The sun to rule the day, God’s love endures forever,

The moon and stars to rule the night, God’s love endures forever." (Ps 136:7-9)

Sister Moon, although you rule the night sky, we many times see you in the day - at times very faint and pale; at other times, especially as you hover on the western horizon as the sun awakens in the east, you glow more brightly.  The stars all are faded in the bright blue; you alone are visible – soft, silent, subtle.  The day moon reminds us that all of the depth, all of the constellations and planets and galaxies of the night sky still surround us, although they are not visible.  The day moon also assures us that we can trust that God always surrounds us even when we can’t see him – soft, silent, subtle.

It is the night moon that dances with the sun and earth on a celestial balcony.  Your partners are constant, but you are everchanging.  Each turn, each step is reflected in your seemingly veiled face, waxing and waning to the music of the galaxies.  From first phase: slight – as no more than a glance of a glance, then quartering, always new moon to full; never new moon to old.  Still, you follow your partner’s lead, rising east and setting west. 

Your garments blend into the eternal sky – you rise sometimes crimson, orange and gold.  Deep colors against the deep night.  “Deep is calling upon deep”, the psalmist sings, like a call to prayer.  And in that prayer, I recognize the deepness of your love for me oh Lord. 

Then you rise to your zenith now silver, finally white of transfiguration – revealing the light of the sun, and the light of God’s Son like a call to holiness.  The stars delight about you, like the angels delighting about their queen – Blessed Mary full of grace. 

His Peace <><

Deacon Dan    

Photo by Nicolas Houdayer on Unsplash