Prayer in front of the Crucifix of San Damiano for those experiencing a difficult time

Francis recited this prayer already in 1205-1206, during the period of his vocational discernment, when he frequented the small church of San Damiano, where the Byzantine Crucifix was still visible today in the Basilica of Santa Chia

Most high, glorious God,
illuminate the darkness of my heart.
And give me straight faith,
certain hope and perfect charity,
hindsight and cognition, Lord,
may your holy and true commandment do. Amen.

The Crucifix of San Damiano was transferred by the Poor Clares to the Protomonastery of Santa Chiara in Assisi, where it is still admirable when, in 1257, they moved from the church of San Damiano.
It is the crucifix before which St. Francis prayed in 1205, receiving the call to work for the Church of the Lord. He first interpreted the voice of Christ as a request in favor of the physical restoration of the church of San Damiano and only slowly understood that the Lord called him to work for the whole Church.
So tells us the legend of the three companions (VI-VII-VIII):
As he passed near the church of San Damiano, he was inspired to enter it. Andatoci began to pray fervently before the image of the Crucifix, who spoke to him with moving goodness: “Francesco, don't you see that my house is collapsing? So go and restore it. " Trembling and amazed, the young man replied: "I will gladly do it, Lord". However, he had misunderstood: he thought it was that church which, due to its antiquity, threatened a near ruin. By those words of Christ he became immensely happy and radiant; he felt in his soul that it was really the Crucified One who addressed the message to him.
Leaving the church, he found the priest sitting next to him, and putting his hand in his bag, offered him some money saying: “Sir, please buy oil to burn a lamp in front of that Crucifix. Once this money is finished, I will bring you more, as needed. "
Following this vision, his heart melted, as if wounded, at the memory of the Lord's passion. As long as he lived he always had the stigmata of Jesus in his heart which manifested itself admirably later, when the wounds of the Crucifix reproduced in a visible way in his body ...
Joyful for the vision and the words of the Crucifix, Francesco got up, made the sign of the cross, then, climbed on horseback, went to the city of Foligno carrying a pack of fabrics of different colors. Here he sold horse and merchandise and immediately returned to San Damiano.
Here he found the priest, who was very poor, and after kissing his hands with faith and devotion, he handed over the money ... (here the legend says that, at first, the priest refused to believe him and only then began to trust, finally starting to cook for Francis who only wanted to do penance).
Returning to the church of San Damiano, all happy and fervent, he made himself a hermit's dress and comforted the priest of that church with the same words of encouragement addressed to him by the bishop. Then, returning to the city, he began to cross squares and streets, raising praises to the Lord with an intoxicated soul. As the praise ended, he worked hard to obtain the stones necessary for the restoration of the church. It said: “Whoever gives me a stone will have a reward; who two stones, two rewards; who three, as many rewards! "...
There were also other people to help him with the restorations. Francis, luminous with joy, said aloud, in French, to the neighbors and to those who passed by there: “Come, help me in these works! Know that here a monastery of lords will arise, and for the fame of their holy life, our heavenly Father will be glorified throughout the church. "
He was animated by a prophetic spirit, and predicted what would actually happen. It was precisely in the sacred place of San Damiano that, at the initiative of Francis, about six years after his conversion, the glorious and admirable Order of poor women and sacred virgins happily started.