Week One: Morning and Evening Prayer
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Day One: Rebuild My Church
Morning Prayer
A Prayer St. Francis shared with his brothers before daily office
All powerful, most holy, most high, supreme God: all good, supreme good, totally good, you who alone are good:
May we give you all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing, and all good. So be it! So be it! Amen.
Oh God, make speed to save us.
Oh Lord, make haste to help us
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, amen.
Reading from the Second Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano
[Francis] was walking one day near the church of St. Damian, which had nearly fallen to ruin and was abandoned by everyone. Led by the Spirit, he went in and fell down before the crucifix in devout and humble supplication; and smitten by unusual visitations, he found himself other than he had been when he entered. While he was thus affected, something unheard of before happened to him: the painted image of Christ crucified moved its lips and spoke. Calling him by name it said: "Francis, go, repair my house, which, as you see, is falling completely to ruin."
Most High, Glorious God, enkindle within us the fire of your love that we may become your instruments of peace, and in doing so rebuild your holy church. Stir within us your perfect grace as we dedicate ourselves to carrying out your holy and true command.
(The Psalms in this book are those St. Francis loved and often shared with his brothers.)
Psalm 56/11-13
In God alone
have I put my trust,
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Your vows are upon me, O God.
I will render thank-offerings unto you.
For you have delivered my soul from death.
Have you not delivered my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever, amen.
Matthew 19/16-20
A man came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" And he said to the man, "Why are you asking me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He then asked him: "Which?" And Jesus said: "Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy mother and thy father, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The young man said to him: "All these things have I observed, what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him: "If you would be perfect, go, sell everything you have, give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. Then come and follow me."
The Lord's Prayer
To be prayed in preferred form or translation
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your 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.
Lead us away from temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever,
amen.
In Praise
Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was and who is to come.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive
praise and glory and honor and blessing.
Let us praise and glorify God 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 God forever.
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Sing praise to our God, all you His servants
and you who love God, the small and the great.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Let the heavens and the earth praise God who is glorious.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Every creature that is in heaven and on earth and
under the earth and in the sea.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Let us praise and glorify God forever.
Final Blessing
St. Francis' Blessing to Br. Leo
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!
Day One ~ Rebuild My Church
Evening Prayer
A prayer St. Francis shared with his brothers before daily office
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, amen.
Reading from the Second Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano
"Francis, go, repair my house, which, as you see, is falling completely to ruin." Trembling, Francis was not a little amazed and became almost deranged by these words. He prepared himself to obey and gave himself completely to the fulfillment of this command. But since he felt that the change he had undergone was beyond expression, it is becoming that we should be silent about what he could not express. From then on compassion for the crucified was rooted in his holy soul, and, as it can be piously supposed, the stigmata of the venerable passion were deeply imprinted in his heart, though not as yet upon his flesh.
All powerful, most holy, most high, supreme God: all good, supreme good, totally good, you who alone are good:
May we give you all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing, and all good. So be it! So be it! Amen.
Most High, Glorious God, we offer you our hands this day, so that we may rebuild your holy church; we offer you our voices this day, so that we may proclaim your love to all the world; and we offer you our lives this day, so that we may become perfect reflections of your compassion and peace in the world. You have called us and we have answered, Most High. Receive us now and reveal how we might best serve you and your people.
Psalm 57/1-11 WEB
Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me,
for my soul takes refuge in you.
Yes, in the shadow of your wings,
I will take refuge until disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
He will send from heaven and save me,
he rebukes the one who is pursuing me.
God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
My soul is among lions.
I lie among those who are set on fire,
even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
and their tongue a sharp sword.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be above all the earth!
They have prepared a net for my steps.
My soul is bowed down.
They dig a pit before me.
They fall into the middle of it themselves.
My heart is steadfast, God.
My heart is steadfast.
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp!
I will wake up the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples.
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens,
and your truth to the skies.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever, amen.
Reading
One of the more important personal testimonies of St. Francis's life came from an eye-witness who called himself: The Anonymous of Perugia.
None of them knew how to read very well, so when the priest opened up the book, they immediately found the passage: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell everything you possess and give to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven." (Mk 10:21) Opening up the book a second time, they discovered: "Whoever wishes to come after me, them them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24) When they opened up the book for the third time, they came upon: "Take nothing for the journey, neither staff, nor script, nor bread, nor money." (Lk 9:3) When they heard this, they were filled with great joy and exclaimed: "This is what we want, this is what we were seeking." And blessed Francis said: "This will be our rule." Then he told both of them: "Go and may you fulfill the Lord's counsel as you heard it."
The Lord's Prayer
(To be prayed in preferred form or translation)
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your 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.
Lead us away from temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever,
amen.
In Praise
St. Francis often composed praises of God using lines from various scriptures,
and would then integrate them into the daily office.
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
he who is, and who was, and who is to come.
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
You are worthy, Oh Lord our God, to receive praise,
glory and honor and blessing.
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
Let the heavens and the earth praise God, the glorious One.
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
And let every creature in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth,
and the sea, and every creature that is in it praise God.
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
Song of Mary
Luke 1/46-55 WEB
My soul magnifies the Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant.
For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.
He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down princes from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things.
He has sent the rich away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and his offspring forever
Final Blessing
St. Francis' Blessing to Br. Leo
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!
Day Two ~ Enlighten My Heart
Morning Prayer
A prayer St. Francis shared with his brothers before daily office
All powerful, most holy, most high, supreme God: all good, supreme good, totally good, you who alone are good:
May we give you all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing, and all good. So be it! So be it! Amen.
Oh God, make speed to save us.
Oh Lord, make haste to help us
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, amen.
Reading adapted from the Legend of St. Francis by the Three Companions
Biography of the saint written in 1246 by three of his closest companions: Br. Leo, Br. Ruffino and Br. Angelo
When they saw each other again [at St. Mary of the Little Portion] they were so filled with such gladness and rejoicing that they remembered none of the suffering they experienced before. They were zealous each day in their prayer and in working with their hands, and together they put away the slothfulness that so often attacks the soul. They would rise at midnight in their zeal and pray most devoutly with measureless weeping and sighing. They cherished, loved and served each other, just as a mother would cherish her dearly beloved child.
Prayer composed by St. Francis before a crucifix
Most High glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me true faith,
certain hope and perfect charity.
Fill me with understanding and knowledge
that I may fulfill your command.
(The Psalms in this book are those St. Francis loved and often shared with his brothers.)
Psalm 68/4-6 WEB
Sing to God!
Sing praises to his name!
Extol him who rides on the clouds:
to Yahweh, his name!
Rejoice before him!
A father of the fatherless,
and a defender of the widows,
is God in his holy habitation.
God sets the lonely in families.
He brings out the prisoners with singing,
but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever, amen.
John 13:34 WEB
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Lord's Prayer
To be prayed in preferred form or translation
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your 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.
Lead us away from temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever,
amen.
In Praise
These Praises of God were found on a scroll given to Br. Leo written by St. Francis. On the reverse side is found the blessing for Br. Leo.
You are the holy Lord, the only God, who work wonders
You are strong. You are great. You are most high.
You are the Almighty King, You, oh Holy Father,
King of Heaven and Earth.
You are three in one, the Lord God of gods.
You are good, all good, the highest good:
Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are charity.
You are wisdom. You are humility.
You are patience. You are beauty.
You are meekness. You are security.
You are quietude. You are joy.
You are hope. You are gladness.
You are justice. You are temperance.
You are all our riches to the full.
You are beauty. You are meekness.
You are our protector. You are our guardian and defender.
You are our strength. You are our refreshment.
You are our hope. You are our faith.
You are our charity. You are our delight.
You are our eternal life: the great and wondrous Lord,
God Almighty, merciful savior.
Final Blessing
St. Francis' Blessing to Br. Leo
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!