Novena to St. Francis
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
~ALL RESPOND~
AMEN
Bless the Lord, Sing to God's Glory,
~ALL RESPOND~
All things fashioned by God's might hand
HYMM
~ALL~
Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord,
To you be ceaseless praises outpoured,
From you alone all creatures came;
No one is worthy of your name.
My lord, be praised by Brother Sun
Who through the skys his course does run:
With brightness he does fill the day,
And signifies your boundless sway.
By Sister Moon, my Lord, be praised,
With all the stars in heaven arrayed,
Let wind and air,and cloud and calm,
And weathers let repeat the psalm.
By Sister Water, then be blessed:
Most humble, useful,precious,chaste.
Be praised by Brother Fire, so bright
Who listens, cheerfully, the night.
My Lord, be praised by Mother Earth,
From whom all living things take birth:
Sustained by you through every hour,
She brings forth fruit and herb and flower.
My Lord be praised by those who prove
In free forgivness their love.
Blest are all those who's trials endure
For you, O Lord: their hope is sure.
By Death, our sister praised be:
From her your people can not flee.
Most blessed are those who do your will,
And follow your commandments still.
Most High, omnipotent, good Lord,
To you be ceaseless praise outpoured;
Let every creature thankful be
And serve in great himility.
PSALM 142
Francisis' Deathbed Psalm
ANTIPHON
Bring me out of prison,
~ALL~
SO THAT I MAY GIVE THANKS TO YOUR NAME!
With my voice I cry to the Lord,
I make supplication;
Before the Lord I tell my trouble,
I pour out my complaint.
When my spirit is faint,
you know my way.
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
Look on my right hand and see;
There is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains for me,
no one cares for me.
I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, "You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living."
Give heed to my cry;
for I am brought very low.
Save me from my persecutors;
for they are too strong for me.
Bring me out of prison,
so that I may give thanks to your name!
The rightous will surround me.
for you will deal richly with me.
ANTIPHON
Bring me out of prison,
~ALL~
SO THAT I MAY GIVE THANKS TO YOUR NAME!
PSALM PRAYER
Let us pray (pause for quiet prayer)
Lord God,
you guided Francis along the path
of voluntary poverty and peacemaking
and brought his soul out of prison
that he might fully praise you.
By his example and prayers,
form us according to the gospel of Jesus,
who ransomed us with His precious blood.
We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.
~ALL~
AMEN
READING
The Stigmata
Galatians 6:14,17
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. From now on, may no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
SILENCE
RESPONSE
Blesses are the peacemakers,
~ALL~
FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD
CANTICLE OF PRAISE OF
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Worthy are you, O Lord, Our God,
to recieve praise and glory, honnor and blessing
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Wothy is the Lamb who was slain
to recieve power and divinity, wisdom and might,
and honor and glory and blessing.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Bless the Lord, sing to God's glory,
all things fashioned by God's mighty hand.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Sing praise to God's glory, all you people of God,
who stand in awe of God, both small and great.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Let heaven and earth praise the Glorious one:
every creature in heaven and on earth,
under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them.
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
Glory to the Fther and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
As is was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. AMEN
~ALL~
LET US PRAISE AND EXAULT OUR GOD FOREVER
LITANY
By the example of the poor little man of Assisi,
~ALL~
TEACH US THE VALUES OF POVERTY AND SIMPLICITY.
By his devotion to the cross and the wounds of Jesus,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO VEREATE THE FIVE HOLY WOUNDS.
By the devotion of Francis to the Holy Eucharist,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO ADORE THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTER.
By the devotion of Francis practiced to Our Lady of the Angles,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO LOVE OUR BLESSED MOTHER.
By the love and commitment of Francis to the Daily Office,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO PRAY IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON.
By the respect Francis had for Priests,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO RESPECT THEIR OFFICE AN THEIR GIFTS.
By the affecionate respect Francis and Claire had for each other,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO VALUE ENDURING CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP.
By the insight that Francis gained from the Bible and from nature,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO READ THEM BOTH WITH HIM.
(Here we state our needs)
By the intercession of Our Lady of the Angles,
of St. Francis and St. Claire,
and of all the saints,
~ALL~
TEACH US TO CHERISH THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
as the world was growing cold,
you renewed the marks of your five wounds
in the flesh of your servant Francis
in order to warm our cold hearts again.
By these signs of love made visible,
may we be inspired to walk with him
the royal road of the cross
until we reach our heavenly home,
where you live and reign with your Father
and the Holy and life-giving Spirit,
for ever and ever.
~ALL~
AMEN
May the Lord bless us and take care of us.
~ALL~
AMEN
May the Lord be kind and gracious to us.
~ALL~
AMEN
May the Lord look on us with favor and give us peace.
~ALL~
AMEN
Nihil Obstat
Reverend William H. Woestman, OMI, JCD
Censor Deputatus
March 4, 2007
Imprimatur
Reverend George J. Rassas
Vicar General
Archdiocese of Chicago
March 8, 2007
