Saint Anthony of Padua Province, USA - Order of Friars Minor Conventual

Resources

Below you will find several prayers attributed to St. Francis. At the bottom of the page, resources for further information.

The Peace Prayer

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; 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.

The Canticle of Brother Sun

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, 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 splendor;
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 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 our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces varied fruits with colored 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 whom death will find in 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.

The Prayer before the Crucifix

Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart and
give me
true faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord,
that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.

The Praises of God

You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things.

You are strong. You are great. You are the most high. You are the almighty king. You holy Father, King of heaven and earth.

You are three and one, the Lord God of gods; You are the good, all good, the highest good Lord God living and true.

You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.

You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment. You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,

You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:

Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.

For more information, you may want to consult the following sources:

Bodo, Murray, "Francis. The Journey and the Dream", St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, 1988.

Carney, Margaret OSF, The First Franciscan Woman: Clare of Assisi and Her Form of Life, Franciscan Press, Quincy University, 1995.

Chesterton, G.K., "Saint Francis of Assisi", New York, 1924.

Englebert, Omer, "Saint Francis of Assisi", Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1965.

"Francis and Clare. The Complete Works." Translation and Introduction by Regis J. Armstrong OFM Cap. and Ignatius Brady OFM, (Paulist Press), New York, 1982.

Habig, Marion A. OFM, Secular Franciscan Companion, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1987.

Habig, Marion A. OFM, The Franciscan Book of Saints, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1979.

Moorman, John, A History of the Franciscan Order from its Origins to the year 1517, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1988.

Moorman, John, "Saint Francis of Assisi", Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1986.

St. Francis of Assisi. Writings and Early Biographies. English Omnibus of Sources for the Life of St. Francis, edited by Marion A. Habig, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1983.

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St. Anthony of Padua Province
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Ellicott City, MD 21042-1419

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