Illumina le tenebre

This is one of the oldest prayers of St. Francis. It has been handed down in the original Umbrian dialect, as well as in Latin. Many manuscripts indicate that it was composed as Francis prayed before the large painted icon crucifix in the church of San Damiano, near Assisi. Francis often visited this abandoned, dilapidated chapel in the early days of his conversion. The story goes that one day while praying there, he heard a voice saying,"Francis, go repair my church which is falling into ruins." So he began to gather stones to rebuild the chapel (which he did, eventually) though Francis later understood that he was being called to renew the living Church. While visiting Assisi in the summer of 2005, I had the opportunity to view the San Damiano crucifix which now hangs in a side chapel in the Basilica of St. Clare. As I knelt before the crucifix, I read and copied down this prayer, which was displayed. I composed this setting for the Chamber Choir of First Unitarian Church in Portland while serving as interim director in 2008. - Joan Szymko