Franciscan Friday

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice and peace. Amen

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. Amen

May God bless yo with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen

And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems, and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen

The Canticle of the Creatures

The Canticle of the Creatures
by St. Francis of Assisi


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 to you, my Lord, with all your creatures, 
especially 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 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, they shall 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

St. Francis’ Peace Prayer

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. Amen.