17 September, impression of the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

IMPRESSION OF THE STIMMED OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

The seraphic Father St. Francis nourished, since his conversion, a very tender devotion to Christ crucified; devotion that always spread with words and life. In 1224, while on the mountain of La Verna he was immersed in meditation, the Lord Jesus, with a singular prodigy, imprinted the stigmata of his passion on his body. Benedict XI granted the Franciscan Order to celebrate annually the memory of this privilege, which made the Poverello a "wonderful sign" of Christ.

PRAYER

O God who, in order to inflame our spirit with the fire of your love, imprinted on the body of the seraphic Father St. Francis the signs of the passion of your Son, grant us, through his intercession, to conform to the death of Christ in order to participate of his resurrection.

For our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God, and lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

HYMN CRUCIS CHRISTI

we sing for the feast of the Impression of the Stigmata of San Francesco

Crucis Christi Mons Alvérnae *
reviewed mysteria,
Ubi salútis aetérnae
Dantur privilege:
Dum Francíscus dat lucérnae
Crucis his studies.

Hoc in monte vir devotus,
solitary specu,
Pauper, a world semótus,
Condensat ieiúnia:
Vigil, nudus, ardens totus,
Crebra dat suspiria.

Solus ergo clasus orans,
Mind sursum ágitur;
Super gestis Crucis plorans
Major conficitur:
Crucisque fructum implorans
Animo resolvitur.

Ad quem venit Rex and caelo
Amíctu Seraphico,
Sex alárum tectus velo
Peaceful Aspect:
Affixúsque Crucis towel,
Miraculous portent.

Cernit servus Redemptórem,
Passum impassíbilem:
Lumen Patris et splendorem,
Tam pium, tam humilem:
Verbórum audit tenórem
Viro not effábilem.

Vertex montis inflammatur,
Vicínis cernéntibus:
Cor Francísci transformátur
Amoris ardóribus:
Corpus true mox ornátur
Mirandis Stigmatibus.

Collaudétur Crucifixus,
Tollens mundi choose,
Quem laudat concrucifixus,
Crucis ferens vúlnera:
Francíscus prorsus inníxus
Super mundi foédera. Amen

Cognitive translation:

Monte della Verna relives the mysteries of the Cross of Christ; where the same privileges that give eternal salvation are bestowed, while Francis turns all his attention to the lamp which is the Cross. On this mountain the man of God, in a solitary cave, poor, separated from the world, multiplies the fasts. In the night watches, although naked, he is all ardent, and frequently dissolves in tears. Confined with himself alone, therefore, he prays, with his mind he rises, he cries meditating on the sufferings of the Cross. He is pierced by compassion: imploring the very fruits of the cross in his soul he is consumed. The King from heaven comes to him in the form of a Seraph, hidden by the veil of six wings with a face full of peace: he is stuck to the wood of a Cross. Miracle worthy of astonishment. The servant sees the Redeemer, the impassive one who suffers, the light and splendor of the Father, so pious, so humble: and he hears words of such a tenor that a man cannot utter. The top of the mountain is all in flames and the neighbors see it: Francis' heart is transformed by the ardors of love. And even the body is actually decorated with amazing stigmata. Praised be the Crucifix who takes away the sins of the world. Francis praises him, the crucifix, who bears the wounds of the Cross and rests completely above the cares of this world. Amen.