4 October 2020: devotion to St. Francis of Assisi

Assisi, 1181/2 - Assisi, on the evening of 3 October 1226

After a carefree youth, in Assisi in Umbria he converted to an evangelical life, to serve Jesus Christ whom he had met in particular in the poor and underprivileged, making himself poor. He joined the Friars Minor in community. Traveling, he preached the love of God to everyone, even to the Holy Land, seeking in his words as in his actions the perfect following of Christ, and he wanted to die on the bare earth. (Roman martyrology)

PRAYER TO SAN FRANCESCO D'ASSISI

Seraphic Patriarch, that you left us such heroic examples of contempt for the world and all that the world appreciates and loves, I beg you to want to intercede for the world in this age so forgetful of supernatural goods and lost behind matter. Your example was already useful in other times to collect men, and by exciting more noble and sublime thoughts in them, it produced a change, a renewal, a real reform. The reforming work was entrusted to you by your sonship, who responded well to the high commission. Look now, glorious Saint Francis, from Heaven where you triumph, your children scattered throughout the earth, and infuse them again with a particle of that seraphic spirit of yours, so that they may fulfill their highest mission. And then take a look over the Successor of St. Peter, to whose seat, living, you were so devoted, over the Vicar of Jesus Christ, whose love has so much plagued your heart. Get him the grace he needs to fulfill his duties. He awaits these graces from God for the merits of Jesus Christ represented at the throne of the divine Majesty by such a powerful intercessor. So be it.

O Seraphic Saint Francis, Patron Saint of Italy, who renewed the world in the spirit of Jesus Christ, hear our prayer. You who, in order to faithfully follow Jesus, voluntarily embraced evangelical poverty, teach us to detach our hearts from earthly goods so as not to become slaves to them. You who lived in the ardent love of God and neighbor, obtain for us to practice true charity and to have a heart open to all the needs of our brothers. You who know our anxieties and our hopes, protect the Church and our homeland and arouse in the heart of all intentions of peace and good.

O glorious Saint Francis, who for all the time of your life, you did nothing but cry for the passion of the Redeemer and deserved to carry the miraculous Stigmata in your body, get me to carry the mortification of Christ in my members, so that by doing my delight in the exercise of penance, you deserve to have the consolations of Heaven one day. Pater, Ave, Gloria

PRAYERS OF SAN FRANCESCO D'ASSISI

Prayer before the Crucifix

O high and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, certain hope, perfect charity and profound humility. Give me, Lord, wisdom and discernment to fulfill your true and holy will. Amen.

Simple prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace: Where there is hatred, let me bring Love, Where it is offended, that I bring forgiveness, Where there is discord, that I bring the Union, Where it is doubt , where I bring Faith, Where is error, where I bring Truth, Where is despair, where I bring Hope, Where is sadness, where I bring Joy, Where is darkness, where I bring the light. Master, let me try not so much to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love. For, so it is: Giving, one receives; Forgiving, that one is forgiven; By dying, he is raised to Eternal Life.

Praise from God Most High

You are holy, Lord God only, you perform wonders. You are strong. You are great. You are very high. You are Almighty King, you Holy Father, King of heaven and earth. You are Three and One, Lord God of gods, You are good, all good, highest good, Lord God, alive and true. You are love, charity. You are wisdom. You are humility. You are patience. You are beauty. You are meekness You are security. You are quiet. You are joy and gladness. You are our hope. You are justice. You are temperance. You are all our sufficient wealth. You are beauty. You are meekness. You are protector. You are our keeper and defender. You are fortress. You are refreshment. You are our hope. You are our faith. You are our charity. You are our complete sweetness. You are our eternal life, great and admirable Lord, almighty God, merciful Savior.

Blessing to Brother Leo

The Lord bless you and keep you, show his face to you and have mercy on you. Turn his gaze towards you and give you peace. The Lord bless you, Brother Leo.

Greeting to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, Lady, holy queen, holy Mother of God, Mary, who are a virgin made Church and elected by the most holy heavenly Father, who consecrated you together with his most holy beloved Son and the Holy Spirit Paraclete; you in whom all fullness of grace and all good was and is. Ave, his palace. ave, his tabernacle, ave, his house. Ave, her clothing, ave, her handmaid, ave, her Mother. And I greet you all, holy virtues, who by the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit are infused into the hearts of the faithful, so that you may return them as infidels faithful to God.

"Absorbeat" prayer

Please take away, O Lord, the ardent and sweet strength of your love my mind from all the things that are under heaven, so that I may die for the love of your love, as you have deigned to die for the love of my love.

Exhortation to the Praise of God

(Praise of God in the place of the Hermit)

Fear the Lord and honor him. The Lord is worthy to receive praise and honor. All of you who fear the Lord, praise him. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Praise him, heaven and earth. Praise the Lord, all rivers. Bless the Lord, O children of God. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and rejoice in it. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! The King of Israel. Every living thing give praise to the Lord. Praise the Lord, for he is good; all of you who read these words, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all creatures. All of you, birds of the sky, praise the Lord. All servants of the Lord, praise the Lord. Young men and women praise the Lord. Worthy is the Lamb who was sacrificed to receive praise, glory and honor. Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided unity. The Archangel Michael, defend us in combat.

The Canticle of Creatures

Most high, almighty, good Lord, your praises, glory and honor and every blessing are yours. To you alone, Most High, they suit, and no man is worthy of you.

Praised be, O my Lord, for all creatures, especially for Lord Brother Sun, who brings the day that enlightens us and it is beautiful and radiant with great splendor: of you, Most High, it carries significance.

Praised be, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the Stars: in the sky you have formed them clear, beautiful and precious.

Praised be you, oh my Lord, for Brother Wind and for the Air, the Clouds, the serene Sky and every time for which you give sustenance to your creatures.

Praised be, my Lord, to Sister Water, who is very useful, humble, precious and chaste.

Praised be you, my Lord, for Brother Fire, with whom you light up the night: and it is robust, beautiful, strong and playful.

Praised be you, my Lord, to our Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and produces various fruits with colorful flowers and grass.

Praised be, my Lord, for those who forgive for your sake and endure sickness and suffering. Blessed are those who will bear them in peace because they will be crowned by you.

Praised be you, my Lord, for our sister Bodily death, from which no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Blessed are those who will find themselves in your will because death will do no harm to them.

Praise and bless the Lord and thank him and serve him with great humility.