The Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, in collaboration with the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, the Solanus Casey Center, and Com.It.Es. Detroit, presented an event on October 11, 2026 to honor the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s hymn Canticle of the Creatures, and the 800th anniversary of his death, recognizing it as a foundational work in the development of the Italian language and as an enduring symbol of care for creation and environmental stewardship.
The event was presented in conjunction with the XXVI Week of the Italian Language in the World, which is held every year during the third week of October.
This year’s theme is “Brilliant language: Conceiving, Designing, and Creating with Italian”. One of the earliest works of Italian literature, written between 1224 and 1226, the Canticle was written in the Umbrian dialect of Italian. St. Francis wrote it near the end of his life while suffering from illness and near-total blindness.
The Canticle celebrates all of creation, from Brother Sun and Sister Moon to Mother Earth, inviting us to see the world as a sacred community. The presentation was delivered by Bro. William Hugo, OFM Cap., Vicar Provincial, Provincial Director of Initial Formation, Director of Fraternal Collaboration and a specialist in the writings of St. Francis.
His talk explored St. Francis’s vision of creation as a universal sister-brotherhood linking all creatures through a shared Creator, tracing the composition of the Canticle and its profound spiritual message, including Francis’s striking reference to “Sister Bodily Death.”
In this verse added just before his death, Francis reframes death not as a curse, but as a natural part of the journey back to God. Before his death, St. Francis also added this verse, written to help resolve a dispute between the mayor of Assisi and the bishop: “Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon to your love, And bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace For by you, Most High, they shall be crowned.”
A reconciliation did occur, and these words underscore the core of Franciscan spirituality: building and repairing relationships. In the serene setting of the Solanus Casey Center, Bro. Bill emphasized the importance of this concept in today’s world.
