Peace Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your 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, your joy.
Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled, as to console
to be understood, as to understand
to be loved as to love with all my being.
For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in giving selflessly that we receive,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
St. Francis Blessing Prayer
The Lord bless you and keep you.
May He show His face to you and have mercy.
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
The Lord bless you!
Amen.
Letter to the Faithful – St. Francis of Assisi
Let every creature
in heaven, on earth,
in the sea and in the depths,
give praise, glory, honor,
and blessing to Him
Who suffered so much for us,
Who has given so many good things,
And Who will continue to do so for the future.
For He is our power and strength,
He Who alone is good,
Who is most high,
Who is all-powerful, admirable, and glorious:
Who alone is holy, praiseworthy, and blessed
throughout endless ages. Amen.
The Soul’s Journey to God – St. Bonaventure
I invite you to the groans of prayer through Christ crucified, through whose blood we are cleansed from the filth of vice so that you do not believe
that reading is sufficient without unction, speculation without devotion,
investigation without wonder, observation without joy,
work without piety, knowledge without love,
understanding without humility, study without divine grace,
reflection as a mirror without divinely inspired wisdom.
Letter to Ermentrude – St. Clare
Meditate constantly on the mysteries of the cross and the agonies of His Mother standing at the foot of the cross. Pray and always be vigilant.
Let us pray to God for one another, for by carrying each other’s burden of charity in this way we will easily fulfill the law of Christ.
Prayer of Mychal Judge
Lord, take me where You want me to go; Let me meet who You want me to meet; Tell me what You want me to say; And keep me out of Your way.
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.
Prayer for Franciscan Vocation
O Mary, Queen of the Order of Friars Minor: Guide and direct us that we may make known your name and mercies to all nations and peoples. Bless our humble efforts for your Divine Son, King of the Universe. We beseech you to inspire noble and chosen souls among the youth for a life in Christ in the spirit of our holy Father Saint Francis. With motherly benevolence foster and strengthen many vocations for the Order of Friars Minor so that seraphic love, labor and sacrifice will ever continue to flourish in this land of yours.
Amen.
Prayer of St. Clare
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of divine substance!
And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead
Itself through contemplation.
Most high,
glorious God,
enlighten the darkness
of my heart, and give me, Lord
a correct faith,
a certain hope,
a perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
so that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.
Intercession prayer to St. Francis of Assisi
Brother Francis, when the times were growing cold, God sent you into the world as a witness to God’s warm love for all. Intercede for us that our hearts may catch fire and we may become instruments of your peace and healing to the world.
Amen.
The Canticle of Brother Sun – St. Francis
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
all praise, glory, honor and blessings are yours.
They belong to you alone, Most High,
for no one is worthy to mention your name.
Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun.
He is the day and through him you give us light.
He is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears your likeness, Most High One.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars.
You formed them in heaven clear and beautiful.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
through the heavens –cloudy and serene —
and through every kind of weather.
Through them you give sustenance to your creatures.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water.
She is very useful, humble, precious and chaste.
Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire.
Through him you light up the night;
he is beautiful, cheerful, robust and strong.
Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth.
She sustains and governs us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be you, my Lord, through those who forgive out of love for you,
and through those who bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace; you, Most High, will crown them.
Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
no living person can escape her.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin;
blessed are those who die in your most holy will,
for the second death shall not harm them.
Praise and bless my Lord.
Give him thanks and serve him with great humility.
Prayer of St. Bonaventure
Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God; may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.
St. Anthony of Padua
Holy Saint Anthony, gentle and powerful in your help, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were always ready to request for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the Saint of miracles. Gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart is ever full of human sympathy, take my petition to the Infant Savior for whom you have such a great love, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola
Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will. Amen.
Prayer before the San Domino Crucifix
Most High, glorious God enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge that I may carry out Your Holy and true command.
– Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi to discern God’s will
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