St. Francis of Assisi
Posted on November 9, 2020 by admin No comments
Born: 1181 Assisi, Duchy of Spoleto, Holy Roman Empire
Died: 3 October 1226 (aged 44 years) Assisi, Umbria, Papal States
Venerated: in Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism, Old Catholic Church
Canonized: 16 July 1228, Assisi, Papal States by Pope Gregory IX
Major shrine: Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi
Feast day: 4 October
Patronage: Franciscan Order, animals, merchants, ecology, stowaways, Naga, Cebu, and Italy. Against dying alone, against fire, animal welfare societies, animals, birds, ecologists, environment, environmentalism, environmentalists, families, lace makers, lace workers, merchants, needle workers, peace, tapestry workers, zoos, Italy, Colorado, Catholic Action, 10 dioceses, 10 cities.
Son of Pietro Bernadone, a rich cloth merchant. Though he had a good education and became part of his father’s business, he also had a somewhat misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time soldier. Captured during a conflict between Assisi and Perugia, Italy, he spent over a year as a prisoner of war. During this time he had a conversion experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his faith seriously.
He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. His family disapproved, and his father disinherited him; Francis formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the Franciscans based on a simple statment by Jesus: “Leave all and follow me.” In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans.
While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224, Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on 17 September.
In the Middle Ages people who believed to be possessed by Beelzebub especially called upon the intercession of Saint Francis, the theory being that he was the demon’s opposite number in heaven.
Peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; 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.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi 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
St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer praising Mary the Mother of Jesus
Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin. You were chosen by the Most High Father in heaven, consecrated by Him, with His most Holy Beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
On you descended and still remains all the fullness of grace and every good. Hail, His Palace. Hail His Tabernacle. Hail His Robe. Hail His Handmaid. Hail, His Mother. and Hail, all holy Virtues, who, by grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that from their faithless state, they may be made faithful servants of God through you.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
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.
Novena to St. Francis of Assisi
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Peaceful and loving Saint Francis, through your kind intercession we seek holiness above all things. We seek the faith, hope and love that allowed you to joyfully renounce the pleasures of earthly life and to radically follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray for us that we may be willing to suffer with and for the poor in the example of Jesus. Help us to be always grateful for the all blessings we have received and the strength to overcome our most pressing concerns, especially…
(Mention your intentions here)
Day 1
St. Francis, as you left a comfortable life to lead a life of poverty and service to our Lord Jesus Christ, we ask you to pray that we also realize the folly of seeking to amass material gains and experience worldly pleasures. This day I humbly forego (name a sacrifice you will make today) as an offering to God our Father, hoping that this act signals a start of my ongoing conversion. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Two
Holy St. Francis, when you decided to serve in the manner of our Lord Jesus Christ you entrusted your whole life to his Divine Providence. Emboldened by your example, I resolve to entrust the favorable resolution of my situation to God our Father, through your most kind intercession. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Three
Humble St. Francis, you have acted as a peacemaker even in the face of extreme physical danger. Through your prayers, may we also be filled with a desire to find peaceful resolutions to the problems that plague us, even in the most trying of times. As an offering to our Almighty Father, I resolve to forgive all the wrongs I have suffered from anyone in the past. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Four
Holy St. Francis, your concern for God’s creation has caused you to be named patron of ecology. May we, through your prayers, follow your footsteps in being good stewards of all of creation which God our Almighty Father has provided. May we also be faithful stewards of the skills and abilities we have been given. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Five
Blessed St. Francis, when you were blessed with the decision to serve our Lord, you abandoned everything and surrendered yourself totally to God’s will. Obtain for us the same trust in God, that the Holy Spirit may guide our every thought, word and deed. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Six
Holy St. Francis, through your prayers, may we be blessed with the desire to give all of our strength, and abilities towards serving God’s purpose in our lives. May our lives be filled with complete faith and the hope of spending eternity with our Heavenly Father. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Seven
Devout St. Francis, you were untiring in your service to the poor. Obtain for us the same capacity for mercy and desire to give of ourselves so that we may one day be considered worthy of the promises of Christ. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Eight
Holy St. Francis, you spent your life evangelizing and won over many people to God. We humbly ask that through your intercession, God may grant that our doubts be replaced with the certainty that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us through life’s many trials as w journey towards The eternal kingdom. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Day Nine
Almighty God, through the kind intercession of St. Francis, we humbly ask for the grace to be free of the fears and anxieties that try to control us, especially (repeat your special intentions and requests here). May we be relieved of the causes of our distress, that we may be able to better serve as the instruments of your Divine Purpose on earth. (reflect a moment or two and then go to Prayer of St. Francis)
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, 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.
Concluding Prayer
St. Francis, help us in praying for the grace to truly repent for our sins and actively seek reconciliation with God. May the blessings we obtain through your intercession deepen our faith, and inspire us to store treasures in Heaven, where we hope to spend eternity with the Almighty Father. May I become an ambassador of God’s peace so that all people may live free from conflict. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.