The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, MD is a ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars. This peaceful, holy ground is welcoming to all. It is a wonderful pilgrimage destination and one of my favorite places to rest and reflect. This is the fifth cache I have placed at the Shrine, all in places well worth visiting.
This traditional cache is small, log only, bring your own pen. The name and location recalls the commitment of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans, and his many followers, to be good stewards of God's creation. It is located in a scenic area well worth visiting and, perhaps, even sitting and resting awhile. The cache is named for the most famous text written by St. Francis, the Canticle of the Creatures. On your way from the parking lot to the GZ, you may pass signs for Brother Fire and Sister Water, two elements of God's creation worthy of praise. Brother Wind is also evident here. Beyond the GZ, you will see the bounty of Mother Earth as the forest meets the rolling farmland. The full text of the Canticle of the Creatures is at the end of this description.
November 2021 update: Relocated cache about 180 feet to a more appropriate location for the cache container used.
About the Shrine of St. Anthony
The Shrine of St. Anthony is located on land once owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. This land was a portion of Doughoregan Manor. Carrollton Manor on the property was a gift from Carroll, the richest man in America, to his favorite granddaughter Emily. The Franciscan Friars purchased the property on which the Shrine is located in 1928 to be used by the Friars as their novitiate. One of the Friars, an architect, Fr. Benedict Przemielewski was commissioned to design a new novitiate. Fr. Benedict chose to miniature the Sacro Convento, the original Friary built in Assisi, Italy, in the 13th century where St. Francis is buried. The Shrine building today retains its original beauty and splendor though it has been renovated to meet the demands of ministry in the 21st century. The Shrine today welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually for daily Mass, St. Anthony novena and other devotions, retreats, workshops, days of reflection, pilgrimage and historic tours, and festive gatherings throughout the year.
Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honour, and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your
love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.
Bonus content: I said Canticle of the Creatures is the most famous text written by St. Francis. It is also an early classic of the Italian language. The very popular modern prayer and song that begins "Make me an instrument of your peace" is often attributed to St. Francis (and known as the Peace Prayer of St. Francis). Although it conveys the spirit fo St. Francis, it was written about 100 years ago, and not by Francis.