St. Francis of Assisi

ARTIST: Br. Robert Lentz, OFM

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Francis was a universal person whose love extended across boundaries of class, religion and race. His reverence for everything led him to call animals, plants, and all of creation "brother" and "sister." Animals responded to his respect and love with an amazing docility. As Francis walked across medieval Europe, people caught glimpses of what Eden must have been like.

St. Francis helped reform the Roman Catholic Church in the thirteenth century through his example of personal poverty. He simply lived the Gospel as he took monastic life into the streets. Living among the poor, his example was so compelling that soon he had thousands of followers.

Francis’ great goal was to follow Jesus as closely as possible. Near the end of his life he spent forty days in solitary prayer on Mt. Alverna. During this time he asked Jesus that he might experience, as much as he could, the love, pain, and grief that Jesus had experienced in his passion. In response to his prayer he was given the stigmata -- wounds in his hands, feet and side. The wounds remained, never healing, for the rest of his life.

Before Francis died, he asked his brothers to strip him of his ragged brown robe so that in total poverty he might lie naked on the bare ground. He had lived as God’s troubadour, a bright flame by which others could read the Gospel with fresh insight and vision.

His feast day is October 4.

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The Peace Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love.


For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Saint Francis' Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament

We adore You,

O Lord Jesus Christ,

in this Church and all the Churches of the world,

and we bless You,

because,

by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Amen.

Saint Francis' Prayer Before the Crucifix

Most High, glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me

true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity,

sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out

Your holy and true command. Amen.

Saint Francis' Greetings to the Blessed Virgin

Hail, Lady and Queen,

holy Mary, Mother of God,

Virgin who became the Church,

chosen by the Father in heaven,

consecrated by his beloved Son

and his Spirit, the Comforter:

in you was and remains,

the whole fullness of grace

and everything that is good.

Hail, his palace,

hail, his tabernacle,

hail, his dwelling,

hail, his robe,

hail, his handmaid,

hail, his mother!

O holy Mother,

sweet and fair to see,

for us beseech the King,

your dearest Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

to death for us delivered:

that in his pitying clemency,

and by virtue of his most holy incarnation

and bitter death,

he may pardon our sins.

Holy Virgin Mary,

among all the women of the world,

there is none like you.

You are the daughter and handmaid of the most high King,

Father of heaven.

You are the mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ.

You are the bride of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for us, with St. Michael the archangel,

and all the powers of heaven

and all the saints,

to your most holy and beloved Son,

our Lord and Master, Amen.

Saint Francis' Prayer Praising Mary the Mother of God

Hail, O Lady, Holy Queen,

Mary, holy Mother of God:

you are the Virgin made Church

chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven

whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son

and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,

in whom there was and is all fullness of grace and every good.

Hail His Palace!

Hail His Tabernacle!

Hail His Dwelling!

Hail His Robe!

Hail His Servant!

Hail His Mother!

And hail all you holy virtues

Which are poured into the hearts of the faithful

through the grace and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit,

that from being unbelievers,

you may make them faithful to God. Amen.

Saint Francis' Canticle of All Creatures

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,

Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,

And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,

by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,

So useful, humble, precious and pure.

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,

producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon

for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace,

By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,

from whom no-one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin!

Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,

And serve Him with great humility.

Heavenly Father,

You gave Your servant Francis

great love for each of Your creatures.

Teach us to see Your design in all of creation.

We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Saint Francis' Meditation Prayer

My God and my All!

Saint Francis' Vocation Prayer

Most High, Glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of our minds.

Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,

so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.

Saint Francis' Prayer in Praise of God, Given to Brother Leo

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful.

You are strong.

You are great.

You are the Most High.

You are Almighty.

You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.

You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.

You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.

You are love.

You are wisdom.

You are humility.

You are endurance.

You are rest.

You are peace.

You are joy and gladness.

You are justice and moderation.

You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.

You are beauty.

You are gentleness.

You are our protector.

You are our guardian and defender.

You are our courage.

You are our haven and our hope.

You are our faith, our great consolation.

You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful Saviour. Amen.

Saint Francis' Blessing to Brother Leo

The Lord bless you and keep you;

May He show His face to you and have mercy.

May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.

The Lord bless you, Brother Leo.

Devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi

O beloved Saint Francis, gentle and poor, your obedience to God and your simple, deep love for all God's creatures led you to the heights of heavenly perfection and turned many hearts to follow God's will. Now, in our day, pray also for us, in our ministry to the many who come here searching for peace and intercede for us as we come before the Lord with our special requests.

[Mention your special intention.]

O blessed Saint of God, from your throne among the hosts of heaven present our petitions before our faithful Lord. May your prayers on our behalf be heard and may God grant us the grace to lead good and faithful lives. Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi,

Pray for us. Amen.

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