FRANCISCANS DISCOVER HOPKINS
1. SHOULD FRANCISCANS BE INTERESTED IN POETRY?
• St Francis was influenced by the troubadours. His interest in troubadours probably started on journeys to France as a child.
The troubadours:
o Sang in Italian or Provençal (French) and not Latin.
o Broke convention by singing love songs to ladies beyond their status.
o Used popular harmonies and rhythms.
St Francis wanted to be able to sing love songs to God with the same language of intimacy. He liked the fact that ordinary people could enjoy popular song styles and understand both words and music. Churchy Latin was remote.
Brother William SSF (Can it be True) was a modern Franciscan troubadour. In the late 60s and early 70s in Queensland William wrote ballads and songs and performed them at rallies with thousands of young people.
• Saint Francis was influenced by Sufi poetry. He wanted to travel to Morocco, Spain, and he succeeded in travelling to Damietta, all centres of Sufi poetry.
The Sufis:
o Wrote love poetry to God.
o The “whirling dervishes” got themselves into an ecstatic meditative state.
o Lived in covenanted communities.
Saint Francis asked Leo to whirl to determine which way to proceed at a crossroads. He was intrigued by ecstatic prayer, and he wanted to know more. Some scholars like Idres Shah believe that he came away from his meeting with the Sultan in Damietta having quizzed the sufis there.
Poetry expresses deep insights about God. The best theology is poetry. Good poetry is theology.
It is often difficult to discern the boundary between hymns and poetry. The poet-priest, George Herbert wrote Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, as a poem, but it makes a great hymn.
Mind Journeys 
Dear Ted,
Your reference to Brother William has led me to your site. I am trying to get hold of the 5 verses of the original “can it be true” and in the correct sequence as Brother William SSF wrote it. I know it was covered by Cliff Richard and the Venturers, but I sang the original as a teenager and it is back with me as I transition into retirement. Can you help in any way to point me as to where the original words might be found?
One or two sentences still escape me. I am hoping to record it, either as it was composed, or in some other way. Best wishes, Jim McGregor.
Dear Jim
Thanks for getting in touch.
Right at the moment,I can’t help you, I’m afraid, with the original words. I think I have them, but we have just moved, and while unpacking I know I saw William’s rwo books Songs of a Sinner 1&2.The moment I find them, I will send you the words.
I remember noticing that William’s original music was strict rhythm, 4 x 4 crotchets to the bar. The singers covering the song syncopated the it more and more. One version of printed music I saw changed beats 2 & 3 to a dotted crotchet and a quaver in all the bars they could.
You could also try the Brothers in Brisbane and Stroud. They are almost certain to have the books. I think CanItcan it be true is in Book 2.
Warm regards,
Ted
Dear Jim
Thanks for getting in touch.
Right at the moment,I can’t help you, I’m afraid, with the original words. I think I have them, but we have just moved, and while unpacking I know I saw William’s rwo books Songs of a Sinner 1&2.The moment I find them, I will send you the words.
I remember noticing that William’s original music was strict rhythm, 4 x 4 crotchets to the bar. The singers covering the song syncopated the it more and more. One version of printed music I saw changed beats 2 & 3 to a dotted crotchet and a quaver in all the bars they could.
You could also try the Brothers in Brisbane and Stroud. They are almost certain to have the books. I think CanItcan it be true is in Book 2.
Warm regards,
Ted