might be supplied by another”,
60
inasmuch as God’s goodness “could not be represented fittingly by
any one creature”.
61
Hence we need to grasp the variety of things in theirmultiple relationships.
62
We
understand better the importance andmeaning of each creature ifwe contemplate it within the entirety
of God’s plan. As the Catechism teaches: “God wills the interdependence of creatures. The sun and
the moon, the cedar and the little flower, the eagle and the sparrow: the spectacle of their countless
diversities and inequalities tells us that no creature is self-sufficient. Creatures exist only in
dependenceon each other, to complete each other, in the serviceof eachother”.
63
87.
Whenwe can seeGod reflected in all that exists, our hearts aremoved to praise the Lord for all
his creatures and to worship him in union with them. This sentiment finds magnificent expression in
the hymn ofSaint Francis ofAssisi:
Praised be you,myLord,with all your creatures,
especiallySirBrotherSun,
who is thedayand throughwhomyou give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiantwith great splendour;
and bears a likeness of you,Most High.
Praised be you,myLord, throughSisterMoon and the stars,
in heaven you formed them clear andprecious andbeautiful.
Praised be you,myLord, throughBrotherWind,
and through the air, cloudyand serene, and everykindofweather
throughwhomyou give sustenance to your creatures.
Praised be you,myLord, throughSisterWater,
who is veryuseful andhumble andprecious and chaste.
Praised be you,myLord, throughBrotherFire,
throughwhomyou light the night,
and he is beautiful andplayful and robust and strong”.
64
60
SummaTheologiae
, I, q. 47, art. 1.
61
Ibid.
62
Cf. ibid., art. 2, ad1; art. 3.
63
Catechism of theCatholicChurch
, 340.
64
Canticleof theCreatures
, in
Francis of Assisi: EarlyDocuments
,NewYork-London-Manila, 1999, 113-114.
