Composed by St. Francis in 1224 at San Damiano, Italy

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, 
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, 
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, 
especially through my lord Brother Sun, 
who brings the day; and you give light through him. 
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! 
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

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 which 
You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which 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 Sister Mother Earth, 
who sustains us and governs us and who produces 
varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, 
through those who give pardon for Your love, 
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace 
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, 
through our Sister Bodily Death, 
from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin. 
Blessed are those who will 
find Your most holy will, 
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, 
and give Him thanks 
and serve Him with great humility.

"What is it that stands higher than words? Action.
What is it that stands higher than action? Silence."

St. Francis of Assisi - October 4th

Born: c. 1181 at Assisi, Italy
Died: October 3, 1226 at Assisi, Italy
Canonized:  July 16, 1228
Claim to Fame: Mystic; First stigmatist since St. Paul; Devoted to the Eucharist;  Founded the Order of Friars; Invented the "Nativity Scene"; Attempted diplomacy with Sultan of Egypt to end Crusades; Traditionally linked with humane care for animals; 

Patron: Franciscan Order, animals, merchants, ecology
Quote: “Lord, make me a channel of your peace.”


While he was praying on the mountain of Verna, during a forty-day fast in preparation for Michaelmas (29 September), Francis is said to have had a vision on or about 13 September 1224, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, as a result of which he received the stigmata. Brother Leo, who had been with Francis at the time, left a clear and simple account of the event, the first definite account of the phenomenon of stigmata. "Suddenly he saw a vision of a seraph, a six-winged angel on a cross. This angel gave him the gift of the five wounds of Christ."  Suffering from these stigmata and from trachoma, Francis received care in several cities (Siena, Cortona, Nocera) to no avail. In the end, he was brought back to a hut next to the Porziuncola. Here, in the place where the Franciscan movement began, and feeling that the end of his life was approaching, he spent his last days dictating his spiritual testament. He died on the evening of Saturday, 3 October 1226, singing Psalm 141, "Voce mea ad Dominum".

Source: Wikipedia, accessed 2020-12-14

By Berthold Werner - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6297116



 

How It All Began               courtesy of Franciscans.org

    https://www.amazon.com/Life-St-Francis-Assisi-Classics/dp/0895551519/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=St.+Francis&qid=1607967690&sr=8-12     

To look at the origins of the Franciscan Order,one must begin by recounting the story of St. Francis of Assisi's conversion. The way of life that inspired the Franciscan Order began during his time in prison after a failed effort to become a knight while fighting in a war with the town of Perugia. Francis, who lived from 1182 to 1226, started to understand at this time that God wanted him to live a life of humility and service.

One day while he was praying at the Church of San Damiano a short walk away from the gates of Assisi, Jesus on His Cross said, "Francis, go and repair my house, for as you can see, it is falling into ruin." At first, Francis took this literally and with his own hands began to rebuild the church. The same church pilgrims in Assisi can visit today for quiet time and prayer. It should be noted that he had no intention of founding a religious community like the Franciscan Order.

Francis soon knew that God wanted him to live the Gospel life. Dressed simply and withoutany possessions of his own, Francis started to wander and serve people as best he could while also telling them that God loved them very much. In the beginning, he lived a life of solitude, but before long, he had a group of companions who formed the foundations of what later became the Franciscan Order.
 

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