Leaves and Grass, Bless the Lord!

Canticle of Thanksgiving

This autumn blessing is styled after the Canticle of the Three Children from the Book of Daniel. In the midst of the fiery flames of King Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, the Spirit filled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Awestruck by the Lord’s preservation of the three youths, the king of Babylon declared: 

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders;
his kingship is an everlasting kingship,
and his dominion endures through all generations.

Daniel 3:100 (NABRE)

The Canticle from the Book of Daniel is sung every Week 1 Sunday of Morning Prayer of the Divine Office, and on solemnities and feast days.

Canticle of the Three Children

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Daniel 3:57-88, 56