Devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi
O glorious Saint Francis, Seraphic Father, mirror of all virtues, who didst bear in thy body the sacred stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ, I implore thy intercession. Thou who didst renounce the vanities of the world to embrace poverty and humility, obtain for us the grace to be detached from earthly goods, to bear the trials of this life with patience, and to live and die in the love of God and our neighbour.
Prayer for a Special Favor
O glorious Saint Francis, who for the love of Christ didst strip thyself of every earthly thing and become poor and humble, I beseech thee to remember me in my needs. Through thy powerful intercession, obtain for me from God the grace I now ask (here mention your request). And if what I ask is not for the glory of God and the good of my soul, obtain for me some other grace that will be more profitable to me. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
(This prayer, though perfectly embodying the Franciscan spirit, is of modern origin, dating to the early 20th century.)
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.
The Canticle of the Sun
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honour, and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility. Amen.
Contexte Historique
Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–1226), the “Poverello” or “little poor one,” is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic Church. After a worldly youth, he renounced all earthly possessions to embrace a life of radical poverty and service to Christ in His creatures. He founded the Franciscan Order and is renowned for his love of all creation, his profound humility, and for being the first recorded stigmatic in Christian history, bearing the wounds of Christ’s Passion in his own body. Devotion to him is widespread, and he is invoked as the patron saint of animals, merchants, and ecology. The famous “Peace Prayer” is often attributed to him, but it first appeared in a French publication in 1912 and is not found in his own writings. Nevertheless, it perfectly reflects the spirit of his life and teachings.