Prayer before the Crucifix
Most high, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart, and give me, Lord
a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge,
so that I may carry out Your holy and true command.
St. Francis’ Testament Prayer
We adore You,
Lord Jesus Christ, here,
and in all Your Churches
throughout the whole world,
and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross
You have redeemed the world.
Blessing for Br. Leo
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He show His face to you and have mercy on you;
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
May the Lord bless you.
Prayer of St. Clare
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of divine substance!
And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead
Itself through contemplation.
Peace Prayer of St. Francis
This famous prayer is not from St Francis himself. It certainly captures one aspect of the Franciscan tradition, but it dates to 1912 and was first published as a poem in the French spiritual magazine, La Clochette. Later during World War I, it appeared on the back of a holy card bearing an image of St. Francis and the association of the two became cemented in our minds. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful prayer.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your 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, your joy.
Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved as to love with all my being.
For it is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
It is in giving selflessly that we receive,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
