Prayers

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Prayer of St. Francis 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 Testament Prayer We adore you Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all of your churches throughout the world and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Prayer of Enlightenment Most High, Glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity. God give me insight and wisdom, so that I might always discern your holy and true will.

Prayer for the Entire Order Almighty, just and merciful God, grant that we may do for your sake what we know you want us to do, and always want what pleases you; so that cleansed and enlightened interiorly and fired with the flame of the Holy Spirit, we may be able to follow in the footprints of your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and so make our way to you Most High, by your grace alone, you who live and rule in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified, God, all-powerful, forever and ever. Amen.

The Praises of God You are holy Lord, the only God, who does wonders. You are strong, you are great, You are Most High, You are the almighty God, ruler of heaven and earth. You are three and one, Lord, God of gods; You are good, all good, the highest good, Lord, God, living and true. You are love. You are wisdom; You are humility; You are patience; you are beauty; you are meekness; You are security; You are rest; You are joy; You are our hope and joy; You are justice; you are moderation; You are all our riches, You are enough for us. You are the protector; You are our guardian 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, God almighty, merciful Savior.

The Canticle of the Sun Most High all-powerful good Lord, Yours are the praises, the honor and all blessing. To you alone, Most High, do they belong. And no person is worthy to mention you. Praised be you my Lord, with all your creatures. Especially Sir Brother Sun, who makes the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, and bears the signification of you Most High. Praised be you my Lord, for Sister Moon and the Stars, You have formed them in heaven, clear, and precious and beautiful. Praised be you my Lord, for Brother Wind, And for Air: cloudy and serene and every kind of weather, By which you give your creatures sustenance. Praised be you my Lord, for Brother Fire, By whom you illumine the night, And he is beautiful, cheerful, robust and strong. Praised be you my Lord, for our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. Praised be you my Lord, for those who give pardon for love of you, and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace, For by you Most High, they will be crowned. Praised be you my Lord, for our Sister Bodily Death, From whom no living person 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 will do them no harm. Praise and Bless my Lord, and give God thanks, And serve God with great humility.

Prayer in Honor of our Foundress Mother Ignatius Hayes O God, you chose Mother Mary Ignatius to lead many women to commit themselves to the Franciscan way of life. Through her intercession we ask you to grant us all our needs. We ask also that we may find our joy as she did, in a generous and faithful response to your call. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Second Letter of Clare to Agnes of Prague What you hold, may you always hold. What you do, may you always do and never abandon. But with swift pace, light step and unswerving feet, so that even your steps stir up no dust, Go forward Securely, joyfully and swiftly on the path of prudent happiness, Believing in nothing, Agreeing with nothing which would dissuade you from this resolution or which would place a stumbling block for you on the way, So that you may offer your vows to the Most High In pursuit of that perfection to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.

Blessing of Saint Francis May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine his face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look upon you with kindness and give you peace.

Blessing of Mother Ignatius May our dear Immaculate Mother and the Divine Infant bless you all and lead you in the ways of love and peace. Amen.