CHRISTOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN THE PRAYER “PRAISE TO THE HIGHEST GOD” OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Abstract

Some medieval authors very wisely intuited the principle that the perfect model of human being is found in Jesus Christ; this hermeneutical principle links the study of anthropology with a Christological understanding. Personal and/or collective experience directly interferes in the way of imagining Christ, and imaginary is formed with cultural elements. Thus, the representations of Christ are heirs of an experience, this experience, besides to seeking to describe Christ, also reveals the anthropological ideal, because Christ is the human being par excellence. Prayers, paintings and writings are some of the ways to metaphorically manifest the relationship between the human being and the transcendent. At the Praises to God Highest Saint Francis attributes several adjectives to God. The purpose of this article is to underline some Christological elements present in this prayer, so that we can knowledge some Saint Francis’ anthropological ideals.