Saints Peter and Paul ChurchCumberland, Maryland
Saints Peter and Paul ChurchLet there be peace on earth,and let it begin with me. |
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St Francis of Assisi Embracing the Crucified Christ - by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo . . . . . St Francis is depicted with his right foot on the Globe, symbolizing his distain for worldly things. He bears the wounds of his own Stigmata, given by God because of Francis' urge to share Christ's crucifixion.
-Saint Francis of Assisi
Most High Almighty Good Lord, Yours are praise, glory, honor and all blessings; To You alone! Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy of speaking Your Name!
Be praised, Lord, with all Your creatures, and above all our Brother Sun, who gives us the day by which You light our way, and who is beautiful, radiant and with his great splendor is a symbol to us of You, O Most High!
And be praised, Lord, for our Sister Moon and the Stars. You created them in the heavens bright, precious and beautiful!
And be praised, Lord, for our Brother the Wind and for the air and the clouds and for fair weather and for all other through which You sustain Your creatures.
And be praised, Lord, for our Sister Water, so useful, and humble, and chaste!
And be praised, my Lord, for our Brother Fire, through whom You light up the night and who is handsome, joyful, robust, and strong!
And be praised, my Lord, for our Sister, Mother Earth, who supports and carries us and produces the diverse fruits and colorful flowers and trees!
Praise and bless the Lord and give thanks to Him and serve Him with great humility!
Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister, bodily Death from whom no living man can escape!
Woe only to those who die in mortal sin; but blessed are those who have done Your most holy will; for the second death can cause them no harm!-Saint Francis of Assisi
Most lovable and popular Saint, son of a go-getting and wealthy merchant of Assisi, you discarded earthly possessions for the Savior you loved so dearly and you won innumerable persons for Jesus. How greatly we need in our day unselfish and just merchants. Inspire them with the love of Christ for others and with the desire for things that endure. . . Amen.
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;
and 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-Saint Francis of Assisi
O Lord, he is a sign to us of You!
Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for this stars, set clear and lovely in the heaven. . . Amen-Saint Francis of Assisi
God Our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You we will also restore it with all Your creation. Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect for they are Your creation. We pray for all animals who are suffering as a result of our neglect. May the order You originally established be once again restored to the whole world through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary, the prayers of St Francis and the merits of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with You now and forever. . . Amen.
O God, Who, through the merits of blessed Francis, magnifies Your church, enriching it anew with spiritual offspring: make us, like him, to disdain the goods of earth, nor at any time to lack the comforting gifts of heaven.
-from the Roman Missal
