Theme
Witnesses on creation
Those who prayed in front of what exists: animals, seasons, mountains, sky.
A few words
He could not have commanded anything more lovable, for this sacrament produces love and union. It is the mark of the greatest friendship to give oneself as food.
Now we must praise the guardian of the heavenly kingdom, the might of the Maker and the purpose of his mind, the work of the Father of glory.
The death of the forest is the end of our life.
There are two ways of arriving at the truth. I decided to follow them both.
The glory of God is the living man; and the life of man is the vision of God.
Believe, dearest brothers, that although in these parts there is a lack of outward things, Our Lord, to whoever wills them so, gives by his love much inward joy.
All 29 witnesses on creation
- Albert le Grand Seeking God with the mind: the patient study of the world as a path to its Creator.
- Alexandros Papadiamantis Praising God in the language of one's own village, without changing register for the printed page.
- Angelus Silesius Brevity as prayer: a few words that are enough to stand before God.
- Antoni Gaudí Working for what one will not see finished; attention given to the forms God has already made.
- Cædmon de Whitby A gift received late and unearned, and given straight back as praise.
- Caryll Houselander The inner emptiness consented to, so that God's breath may make its music there.
- Charles Eastman (Ohíye S'a) Silence as the first act of prayer, before any word.
- Christopher Smart Praise that goes on where the mind gives way.
- Dorothy Stang Staying on the side of the most exposed when staying costs.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning The certainty that nothing is small, and that God sometimes answers too fast.
- François d’Assise Poverty as radical freedom, creation as family.
- George Washington Carver Science as prayer: seeking in creation the secrets patiently entrusted by God, and returning them to serve the poorest.
- Georges Lemaître Seeking the truth by two roads without confusing them, wonder before the beginning.
- Gerard Manley Hopkins Praise wrung from an exhausted body, and prayer that dares to complain.
- Herrade de Landsberg Patiently gathering what you have received, in order to hand it on.
- Hildegarde de Bingen Creation shot through with a divine sap, and the praise that rises from all that lives.
- Irénée de Lyon The life of the human being as the glory of God, faith handed on from hand to hand.
- Isidore le Laboureur Manual work held as continuous prayer; poverty that still gives.
- J. R. R. Tolkien Recognising the light at the heart of the world's story, hope that holds out against the dark.
- Jean Damascène Incarnate prayer: to raise the mind to God who drew near even in matter.
- José de Anchieta Learning the language of those you are sent to; writing where there is no paper.
- Lilias Trotter A brilliant future set aside for a harder calling, patience among communities others had given up reaching, decades of quiet translation work instead of the fame she could have had.
- Nicholas Black Elk The peace that begins inside a person, and two inheritances of prayer carried without setting them against each other.
- Ntsikana Finding in one's own language the words to name God, without waiting to be given them.
- Olivier Messiaen Seeking God in what already sings; making the ear an organ of prayer.
- Romanos le Mélode The Gospel sung as living drama of the human heart, and prayer carried by beauty.
- Thomas Traherne Wonder recovered after childhood, as a form of thanksgiving.
- Toru Dutt To keep writing to the end of a short life, and to hold in silence the hand of those one loves.
- Yared l'Éthiopien Raising praise through song, praying with the voice of a people.