Written by St. Francis of Assisi, this is an approved substitute for Liturgy of the Hours for Secular Franciscans as part of the prayer according to the rule.
Recite the prayer like Francis did:
Recite the Our Father:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Recite the short Doxology:
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Recite Praises:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who is and who was and who is to come - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Lord our God, you are worthy to receive praise and glory and honor and blessing - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength, and honor and glory and blessing - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit: - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Sing praise to our God, all you his servants and you who fear God, the small and the great. - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Let heaven and earth praise him who is glorious - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. And every creature that is in heaven and on earth and under earth and in the sea and those which are in them. - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. - Let us praise and glorify him above all forever.
Recite Almighty prayer:
Almighty, most holy, most high and supreme God, all good, supreme good, totally good, You who alone are good, may we give back to You, all praise, all glory, all grace, all honor, all blessing, and all good. So be it. So be it. Amen.
Recite the Antiphon:
Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like you born into the world among women: Daughter and Handmaid of the most High, sovereign King, the Heavenly Father; Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of the heavens and with all the saints together with your most holy beloved Son, the Lord and Teacher.
Recite the short Doxology:
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Recite the Psalm for the specified time and day:
Sundays, Solemnities and Feasts Morning Psalm – The New Song
Sing a song to the Lord, the worker of wondrous deeds. God's right hand and his holy arm sacrificed the beloved Son. The Lord made salvation known, revealed justice to the nations. On that day the Lord sent mercy and song in the night. This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God, and has shone upon us. Let the heavens rejoice and earth exult, let the sea and all that is in it roar, let the fields and everything in them sing for joy. Bring to the Lord, families of nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor, bring to the Lord the glory due his name Kingdoms of the earth sing to God, chant psalms to the Lord. Chant psalms to the One Who ascended to the East above the heaven of heavens. Behold, God speaks with the voice of power; give glory to God, who governs Israel, whose splendor and power is in high. God, wonderful in the saints, the very God of Israel, will give the people power and might. Blessed be God!
Sundays, Solemnities and Feasts Evening Psalm – Acclamation of the Hero
Clap your hands, all you peoples; raise to God a shout of exultation and joy. Because the Lord is the Most High, the awesome, great King over all the earth. For the most holy Father of heaven, our King before all ages, sent the beloved Son from on high, who planted salvation in the center of the earth. Let heavens rejoice and earth exult, let the sea and all that is in it roar, let fields and everything in them sing for joy. Sing a new song to the Lord; all the earth sing to the Lord! For the Lord is great and worthy of high praise; worthy of awe above all gods. Bring to the Lord, families of nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor, bring to the Lord the glory due his name. Cast off the weight of sin and take up the Lord's holy cross; and follow the Lord's most holy commands to the very end. (During Advent the psalm ends here) Let the whole earth delight before the Lord's face; say among the nations: the Lord has reigned from the wood of a cross. (On Ascension, the following is added:) And the Lord ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the most holy Father in heaven. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory. And we know that the Lord is coming and will come to judge justice.
Monday Morning Psalm – Gethsemane
O God, I have given you an account of my life; you have recorded my tears. All my enemies were conjuring evil thoughts against me; they took counsel together. And they repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love. What they should have loved me for became a cause to slander me; but I prayed: "My holy Father, King of heaven and earth, be not far from me, for tribulation is near and there is no one to help me. Let my enemies turn back, the day I call on you." I knew then that you are my God. My friends and companions drew near and stood against me; my neighbors stayed far from me. You kept my friends far from me, they made me their abomination; I was handed over and was not able to escape. Holy Father, keep not your aid far from me; my God, see to my assistance! Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Monday Evening Psalm – Encounter with the Sanhedrin
Lord, God of my salvation, day and night I cried out before you. May my prayer enter into your sight; incline your ear to my request. See to my soul and liberate it, because of my enemies all over me. Since it is you who drew me from the womb, you, my hope from my mother's breasts, from the womb I was thrust into you. From my mother's womb you are my God; do not move away from me. You know my disgrace and my confusion, and my severance. In your sight are all who trouble me; my heart expected disgrace and misery. I looked for someone who would grieve together with me and there was no one; and for someone who would console me and I found no one. O God, the wicked have risen against me, the synagogue of the mighty have sought my life; they have not placed you in their sight. I have been numbered with those who go down into the pit; I have become as one without help, free, but among the dead. You are my most holy Father, My King and my God. Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Tuesday Morning Psalm – A Morning Interlude
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for my soul trusts in you. Shadow me beneath your wings of hope until iniquity passes by. I will call to my Father most holy, most high, to God my benefactor. God sent help from heaven and freed me, God disgraced those who trampled me. God sent mercy and truth; God snatched my soul from my fiercest enemies, from those who hated me, who were confident against me. They rigged a trap for my feet and they buckled my soul. They dug a pit for me and into it they have fallen. I am prepared, O God, my heart is ready, I will sing and chant a psalm. Arise, my glory, arise psaltery and harp, I will arise at dawn. I will confess you before peoples, O Lord, I will chant you a psalm among nations. for your mercy has reached even to the heavens, and even to the clouds, your truth. Be exalted above the heavens, O God, and over all the earth be your glory.
Tuesday Evening Psalm – Encounter with the Imperial Authority
(Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Have mercy on me , O God, for all have trampled me underfoot; they oppressed me, attacking me all day long. All day long my enemies have trampled me underfoot; how numerous those who have waged war against me. All my enemies were against me, they were thinking evil things of me; they spread a hateful word about me. Those who were guarding my life were scheming against me. They were going outside and were plotting together. All who saw me laughed at me; their lips spoke and their heads shook. I am a worm, a non-human, a human disgrace, an outcast of the people. Far more than all my enemies, I have become a total disgrace to my neighbors and a dread to my acquaintances. Holy Father, keep not your aid far from me; my God, see to my assistance! Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Wednesday Morning Psalm – On the Cross
(Christ the Hero addresses Francis) With my voice I cried out to the Lord, with my voice I pleaded with the Lord. In God's sight I poured out my prayer, before God the story of my troubles. My spirit was failing within me, but you, you knew my paths. On this road I was walking, the arrogant have hidden a trap for me. I looked to my right and saw that no one recognized me. There is no escape; no one cares for my life. Because of you I have endured disgrace, confusion has covered my face. I became a stranger to my kin, and a pilgrim to my mother's children. (Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Holy Father, zeal for your house has consumed me, and the abuses of your attackers have fallen on me. They rejoiced and united against me; they scourged me and I knew not why. They outnumber the hairs of my head, those who hate me without cause. My enemies have been strengthened, those who persecuted me unjustly; they made me repay what I did not steal. Evil witnesses rose up, questioned me on things I knew nothing about. They were repaying me evil for good; they were slandering me for pursuing goodness. You are my most holy Father, my king and my God. Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Wednesday Evening Psalm – Passage from This World to the Father
(Christ the Hero addresses the people) O you who pass along this way, look and see if there is a sorrow like mine. For a pack of dogs has surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me. Yes, they have stared at me and gloated; they have divided my clothes among them and have cast lots for my tunic. They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have counted all my bones. They have opened their mouth against me like a ravening and roaring lion. I have been poured out like water and all my bones have been pulled apart. My heart has become like melting wax within my being. My strength has dried up like baked clay; my tongue has stuck to my palate. They have given me poison for my food and vinegar to slake my thirst. They have led me into the dust of death; they have added to the pain of my wounds. I have slept...I have risen, and my most holy Father has received me with glory. (Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Holy Father, You have held my right hand; you have drawn me by your will and have lifted me up in glory. For what else is in heaven for me, and besides you, what have I wanted on earth? (Christ the Hero addresses the people) Behold and see that I am God, says the Lord; supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth. (Francis addresses the people) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has redeemed the souls of his servants with his own most holy blood, and who will not abandon those who hope in the Lord. And we know that the Lord is coming, and will come to judge justice.
Thursday Morning Psalm – Acclamation of the Hero
Clap your hands, all you peoples; raise to God a shout of exultation and joy. Because the Lord is the Most High, the awesome, great King over all the earth. For the most holy Father of heaven, our King before all ages, sent the beloved Son from on high, who planted salvation in the center of the earth. Let heavens rejoice and earth exult, let the sea and all that is in it roar, let fields and everything in them sing for joy. Sing a new song to the Lord; all the earth sing to the Lord! For the Lord is great and worthy of high praise; worthy of awe above all gods. Bring to the Lord, families of nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor, bring to the Lord the glory due his name. Cast off the weight of sin and take up the Lord's holy cross; and follow the Lord's most holy commands to the very end. (During Advent the psalm ends here) Let the whole earth delight before the Lord's face; say among the nations: the Lord has reigned from the wood of a cross. (On Ascension, the following is added:) And the Lord ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the most holy Father in heaven. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory. And we know that the Lord is coming and will come to judge justice.
Thursday Evening Psalm – Gethsemane
O God, I have given you an account of my life; you have recorded my tears. All my enemies were conjuring evil thoughts against me; they took counsel together. And the repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love. What they should have loved me for became a cause to slander me; but I prayed: "My holy Father, King of heaven and earth, be not far from me, for tribulation is near and there is no one to help me. Let my enemies turn back, the day I call on you." I knew then that you are my God. My friends and companions drew near and stood against me; my neighbors stayed far from me. You kept my friends far from me, they made me their abomination; I was handed over and was not able to escape. Holy Father, keep not your aid far from me; my God, see to my assistance! Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Friday Morning Psalm – Encounter with the Sanhedrin
Lord, God of my salvation, day and night I cried out before you. May my prayer enter into your sight; incline your ear to my request. See to my soul and liberate it, because of my enemies all over me. Since it is you who drew me from the womb, you, my hope from my mother's breasts, from the womb I was thrust into you. From my mother's womb you are my God; do not move away from me. You know my disgrace and my confusion, and my severance. In your sight are all who trouble me; my heart expected disgrace and misery. I looked for someone who would grieve together with me and there was no one; and for someone who would console me and I found no one. O God, the wicked have risen against me, the synagogue of the mighty have sought my life; they have not placed you in their sight. I have been numbered with those who go down into the pit; I have become as one without help, free, but among the dead. You are my most holy Father, My King and my God. Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Friday Evening Psalm – Encounter with the Imperial Authority
(Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Have mercy on me , O God, for all have trampled me underfoot; they oppressed me, attacking me all day long. All day long my enemies have trampled me underfoot; how numerous those who have waged war against me. All my enemies were against me, they were thinking evil things of me; they spread a hateful word about me. Those who were guarding my life were scheming against me. They were going outside and were plotting together. All who saw me laughed at me; their lips spoke and their heads shook. I am a worm, a non-human, a human disgrace, an outcast of the people. Far more than all my enemies, I have become a total disgrace to my neighbors and a dread to my acquaintances. Holy Father, keep not your aid far from me; my God, see to my assistance! Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Saturday Morning Psalm – On the Cross
(Christ the Hero addresses Francis) With my voice I cried out to the Lord, with my voice I pleaded with the Lord. In God's sight I poured out my prayer, before God the story of my troubles. My spirit was failing within me, but you, you knew my paths. On this road I was walking, the arrogant have hidden a trap for me. I looked to my right and saw that no one recognized me. There is no escape; no one cares for my life. Because of you I have endured disgrace, confusion has covered my face. I became a stranger to my kin, and a pilgrim to my mother's children. (Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Holy Father, zeal for your house has consumed me, and the abuses of your attackers have fallen on me. They rejoiced and united against me; they scourged me and I knew not why. They outnumber the hairs of my head, those who hate me without cause. My enemies have been strengthened, those who persecuted me unjustly; they made me repay what I did not steal. Evil witnesses rose up, questioned me on things I knew nothing about. They were repaying me evil for good; they were slandering me for pursuing goodness. You are my most holy Father, my king and my God. Make haste to help me, Lord, God of my salvation!
Saturday Evening Psalm – Passage from This World to the Father
(Christ the Hero addresses the people) O you who pass along this way, look and see if there is a sorrow like mine. For a pack of dogs has surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me. Yes, they have stared at me and gloated; they have divided my clothes among them and have cast lots for my tunic. They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have counted all my bones. They have opened their mouth against me like a ravening and roaring lion. I have been poured out like water and all my bones have been pulled apart. My heart has become like melting wax within my being. My strength has dried up like baked clay; my tongue has struck to my palate. They have given me poison for my food and vinegar to slake my thirst. They have led me into the dust of death; they have added to the pain of my wounds. I have slept...I have risen, and my most holy Father has received me with glory. (Christ the Hero addresses the Father) Holy Father, You have held my right hand; you have drawn me by your will and have lifted me up in glory. For what else is in heaven for me, and besides you, what have I wanted on earth? (Christ the Hero addresses the people) Behold and see that I am God, says the Lord; supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth. (Francis addresses the people) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has redeemed the souls of his servants with his own most holy blood, and who will not abandon those who hope in the Lord. And we know that the Lord is coming, and will come to judge justice.
Recite the short Doxology:
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Recite Antiphon:
Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like you born into the world among women: Daughter and Handmaid of the most High, sovereign King, the Heavenly Father; Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of the heavens and with all the saints together with your most holy beloved Son, the Lord and Teacher.
Recite the short Doxology:
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Blessing/ Dismissal:
V. Let us bless the Lord, the living and true God. R. Let us always give back to God praise, glory, honor, blessing and every good. V. Amen. Amen. R. So be it. So be it.
Format and prayers used from “The Geste of the Great King” by Laurent Gallant, OFM and Andre Cirino, OFM.
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