Over the past month or so, I have been taking a course called the Franciscan Way, An Alternative Orthodoxy, taught online by Fr Richard Rohr. I still have several weeks to go. However, it has been incredibly transformative and healing for me. What has emerged within me is the desire to compose music again. I have posted a “reimagination” of a song composed years for voice and guitar, for piano.

The original song was called “As A Mother To Her Child” based on this letter from Francis of Assisi to his beloved, friend, confessor, counselor, and travel companion, Brother Leo. Here is the letter he wrote Brother Leo.

Brother Leo, peace and good health from your Brother Francis-Sco! I am speaking to you, now, as a mother would, because all of the words we passed between us on the road together I am summarizing in this message and bit of advice. If you ever feel the need for my counsel, I suggest that you turn to this letter. My advice is this: In whatever way you feel called to serve the Lord, and to make him happy, to follow his footprint and his poverty, do that, and do that with my blessing and with the blessing of the Lord God. And if you ever want to come and see me, Leo, for the sake of your soul or for any other reason, come, by all means, come back to me.

Sweeney, Jon. Francis of Assisi – in His Own Words: The Essential Writings . Paraclete Press. Kindle Edition.

Here is the song as I originally composed it.

Here is the song reimagined for just piano.