Readings for the Memorial of

St Francis of Assisi
October 4
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From the Common of Holy Men and Women: For Religious


ENTRANCE ANTIPHON          
Vir Dei Franciscus reliquit domum suam, dimisit hereditatem suam, inops et pauper factus est; Dominus autem assumpsit eum.
Francis, the man of God, left his home behind,
abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless,
but the Lord raised him up.

COLLECT
Deus, qui beato Francisco paupertate et humilitate Christo configurari tribuisti, concede, ut, per illius semitas gradientes, Filium tuum sequi et tibi coniungi laeta valeamus caritate.
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis
was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps,
we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity,
come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.


FIRST READING          Galatians 6:14-18
Brothers and sisters:
May I never boast except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
For neither does circumcision mean anything,
nor does uncircumcision,
but only a new creation.
Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule
and to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make troubles for me;
for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.  

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
brothers and sisters. Amen.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM           16:1b-2a and 5,7-8,11
Tu es, Domine, pars hereditatis meae.

R. (see 5a)   You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R.      You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.. I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R.      You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R.      You are my inheritance, O Lord.


ALLELUIA          Cf. Mt 11:25
Benedictus es, Pater, Domine caeli et terrae, quia mysteria regni parvulis revelasti.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.


GOSPEL          Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed,
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."


PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Munera tibi, Domine, offerentes, quaesumus, ut ad mysterium crucis celebrandum convenienter aptemur, cui beatus Franciscus tam ardenter adhaesit.
As we bring you these offerings, O Lord,
we pray that we may be rightly disposed
for the celebration of the mystery of the Cross,
which Saint Francis so ardently embraced.
Through Christ our Lord.


COMMUNION ANTIPHON          Mat 5:3
Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, per haec sancta quae sumpsimus, ut, beati Francisci caritatem zelumque apostolicum imitantes, tuae dilectionis effectus percipiamus et in salutem omnium effundamus.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord,
through these holy gifts which we have received,
that, imitating the charity and apostolic zeal of Saint Francis,
we may experience the effects of your love
and spread them everywhere for the salvation of all.
Through Christ our Lord.


Liturgy of the Hours
Francis of Assisi


From the Common of Holy Men: religious, except for the following:

Morning Prayer

HYMN

Literal translation
In the heavenly company,
Francis shines in glory,
bearing the marks of Christ
by a distinguished privilege.

This brother of the poor
announcing the cross of the Lord,
the sign of the covenant
has become companion of the apostles.

This martyr by desire
carries the cross after Jesus
Christ unites him with the
gathering of martyrs in heaven.

Francis was always bearing
the cross through abstinence.
Now he has happily obtained
the glory of the Confessors.

Shining with sparkling splendour,
following the Lord who suffered,
now by way of reward of his chastity
he rejoices in the choir of virgins.

May the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
through the wounds of Francis,
make us shine with divine light,
and give us the gifts without end. Amen.

Verse translation:
St. Francis shines in glorious light
among the heav’nly college bright,
for by a grace of special kind
Christ’s marks are on St. Francis signed.

He lived with friends in poverty,
an apostolic company,
and bears the cross that signals peace,
the covenant that shall not cease.

A martyr by desire, he bears
the cross of Christ, whose sign he wears,
so in the heav’ns Christ makes him be
one with the martyr’s company.

He always bore the cross of Christ.
Through abstinence he sacrificed.
So with confessors now he reigns
and with them their reward he gains.

In gleaming robes as white as snow
he follows where Christ’s footsteps go,
and joys in chastity’s great prize
in angel choirs above the skies.

O Father, Son, and Spirit, by
The wounds of Francis purify
Your servants who these gifts implore
Forever and forevermore.

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: Francis left this earth a poor and lowly man; he enters heaven rich in God's favor, greeted with songs of rejoicing.


COLLECT
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis
was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps,
we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity,
come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Evening Prayer


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.


COLLECT
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis
was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps,
we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity,
come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever..

Office of Readings


A letter from St Francis of Assisi to all the faithful
(Opuscula, edit. Quaracchi 1949, 87-94)

We must be simple, humble and pure

It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother. And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me."

Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps. And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body.

O how happy and blessed are those who love the Lord and do as the Lord himself said in the gospel: "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul; and your neighbour as yourself." Therefore, let us love God and adore him with pure heart and mind. This is his particular desire when he says: "True worshippers adore the Father in spirit and truth." For all who adore him must do so in the spirit of truth. Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers saying: "Our Father, who art in heaven," since "we must always pray and never grow slack."

Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbours as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God’s sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father’s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.


RESPONSORY           Matthew 5:3-4,6
Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.
- Blessed are those of gentle spirit;
they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are you who hunger now;
you shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are those of gentle spirit;
they shall inherit the land.


COLLECT
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis
was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps,
we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity,
come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.


The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 
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