Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) composed this song in the Umbrian dialect of Italian around the time that Italian began to distinguish itself from Latin. He wrote it while suffering intensely from illness near the end of his life. “Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora luna e le stelle, in celu l’ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.” “Praise be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.” – from “The Canticle of the Creatures” CLICK HERE or on the pictures below to watch the video and hear the song in the original Italian. All of the forest scenes…