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From the “Letter to the Faithful” of Saint Francis of Assisi
"O how glorious and holy and great to have a Father in heaven! O how holy,
consoling, beautiful and wonderful to have such a Spouse! O how holy and how
loving, gratifying, humbling, peace-giving, sweet, worthy of love, and above all
things desirable it is to have such a Brothers and such a Son: our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who laid down His life for His sheep and prayed to His Father, saying:
Holy Father, save in your name those whom you have given me. Father, all those
whom you have given me in the world were yours and you have given them to me.
The words that you gave me, I have Given to them; they have accepted them and
known in truth that I havecome from you and they have believed that you have
sent me. I pray for them and not for
the world; bless and sanctify them. I sanctify myself for them
that they may be sanctified in being one as we are one.And I wish, father, that where I am, they may be with me that they may
see my glory in your kingdom.
Let every creature in heaven, on earth, in the sea and in the depths,
give praise, glory, honor and blessing To Him Who suffered so much, Who
has given and will give in the future every good, for He is our power and
strength, Who alone is good, Who alone is almighty, Who alone is
omnipotent, wonderful, glorious and Who alone is holy, worthy of prise and
blessing through endless ages.
Amen."
Prayer:
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, and
the honor. and all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they
belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name. Praised be You, my Lord, with
all Your creatures,expecialy 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 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 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, shall they be crowned. Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily
Death, from whom no one living 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.
Prepared by the Pontifical Theological Faculty “Saint Bonaventure”
(Seraphicum)
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