St. Francis

Novena in Honor of Saint Francis of Assisi

Novena Prayer - Day One

In this picture we see Francis as a wealthy young man, running after a beggar that he has just scorned and refused an alm. He gives a rich present to the man and vows after that never again to refuse anyone who asks him of something in God's name. All of us are called to conversion. A turning away from the lesser things of this world to the greater blessings of Heaven. The more we meditate on how wonderful God is, how great the joys of heaven will be - the things of this world fade away and do not become so important to us. The more "God" becomes our "All" the less the world controls us. During these nine days of walking with Saint Francis we are going to shift our attention from the "world" from "ourselves" and open our eyes and our hearts to the great wonders and blessings that God sets before us each day. Every moment of this day, is a gift to us. The clouds that float above our heads, the soft wind blowing upon our faces - all these, everything is God reaching out to us, blessing us and showing how much He loves us. This first day is our "conversion day". Many times in our lives like Saint Francis pictured above - God has called us to do some kindness for someone we would rather just forget. Doesn't have to be a big thing, maybe just a smile for someone we often frown at. Maybe just a word of encouragement for someone we unwittingly find ourselves putting down. All of us have someone in our life that God sets before us as an opportunity to give to His least ones. When we do that, when we rise above our natural feelings and extend a small kindness, we are the ones who find the blessing! We experience conversion. Let us look about today, for that conversion opportunity! Saint Francis, friend of the lowly and poor open my eyes to see God in all my brothers and sisters. Pray for me, Saint Francis, that I too, might experience a conversion this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Two

Francis has begun his conversion as we saw yesterday, but here he still has a way to go. Richly dressed and lavish with his money he provides another great party for his friends, something he is well known for! Soon he will leave this rich way of living far behind him, but his generosity and spirit of giving will continue in other ways. As we open our hearts to be transformed by God's great love, He is not going to totally wipe us out and start over from scratch! No, our gifts and talents that we have, will now be used in brand new different ways. Just as Jesus changed Simon Peter and his brother Andrew from catching fish into fishes of Men - He will now do the same with our talents and gifts. Today, let us thank God for all the blessings He has given to us. Let us thank Him for each moment we have received,for even those that were not consecrated to him from our past, can be proofs now of the wonderful transforming work of grace daily taking place in us. Saint Francis, you are the Saint of Joy because you found the true riches in God's field. You are the Saint of Peace because you found the true peace, that comes from trusting in God. Help us, Saint Francis, to find this same joy and experience this same peace in our hearts and in our lives. Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Three

So many times when we think of saints - we think of their holiness as something accomplished from day one. But it is not so, they like us had to grow. They had to overcome their natural aversion to the crosses and trials of this life. Francis is no exception, common to that period of time not only did he have a great fear of lepers he also had a great loathing for them. He would do anything to let not even so much as their shadow come close to him. So what happens? He is riding gaily along on his fine horse and there is a leper. Quickly he turns his head and speeds his horse past him, and then comes the old remorse. Is this what our Lord would have done? Is this how Jesus would have treated such a poor and pitable man? No, of course not. So he takes a deep breath, turns his horse around and returns to the leper. So here is where we come in. Who or what are the lepers in our life? If we can change our responses to them as Francis did - I am sure we will find like he did, that the lepers disappear and only Christ remains. Saint Francis, all holiness stems from how we treat one another. Open my heart and my conscience to see the areas I need to change. Pray that I may act upon the grace given, to respond lovingly and generously. Amen.

 
Novena Prayer - Day Four
God spoke to Saint Francis,
 "Go, Francis, and restore my Church."
 Francis heard the words coming from the crucifix - 
which right away tells us something. 
Francis was in a church 
and he was praying! 
If we want God to speak to us
 than we also must spend that time in prayer. 




Another word for prayer is "relationship" - 
we speak to God and God speaks to us. 
As readily as we want God to listen to us - 
so we must give that same readiness
 to listening to God.
 If we want God to answer our prayers - 
we must be ready as Saint Francis,
to respond to God in the same manner. 



Saint Francis, 
I do not often have
the resolution and firmness of heart
to pray as much as I should.
Beg God to give me the grace
of a prayerful and listening heart.
Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Five

Francis heard Jesus speaking to him from the crucifix. Immediately he starts looking about and figuring out where to start. The Portiuncula "little portion" is the perfect place. A small, broken down church that is definitely in need of repair. He starts in with a few rocks and some mortar. We can pretty much assume that Francis as a wealthy young man did not know a whole lot about church building... but he doesn't let that stop him. He starts and just keeps going. He begs a few stones here, a little mortar there and continues to work. After a while he gets a few helpers and thus it begins... the great Franciscan order originates with a simple person listening to God and hauling around some rocks. Pretty amazing. Jesus will speak as simply and plainly to us. We must imitate Francis. Maybe we don't quite know what God is saying, maybe we make a few false starts, but if we listen, and then follow as we think we are given to do, amazing things will happen for us as well. God will clear up things as we go along, but first we must dig in and get started. How exciting! Saint Francis, help me to listen, help me to follow through! Help me to just get started in the way I think God is drawing me. You are not calling me to do great things but to pick up a few rocks, a few simple stones, and rebuild your church right where I am today. Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Six

There are a few areas that I have a problem with Saint Francis. I don't quite follow his reasoning on punishing himself constantly by taking all his clothes off. Seems very weird and not all that effective - it is not something I can ever imagine Jesus doing so where he came up with this idea is beyond me. Must be some Middle Ages thing that is escaping my grasp. But the point is, Francis was determined to belong totally to God. Since his father complained to the Bishop that the clothes Francis has on his back belonged to him, Francis readily gave them up. Much as I hate to admit it, I need to be as ready and willing to give everything up to totally follow Jesus. Pride is perhaps the hardest thing to let go of in our christian walk...maybe this was really what Francis was trying to throw off. Saint Francis, help me to let go of the many things that are holding me back from living a truly free and enuncumbered life. Not the responsibilities that my state of life require work, family, etc, but those interior things that hold me down, the little puffed up images of self that need to be stripped and given up. Help me, like Saint Francis to be more of a fool in this world and to be more lighthearted and joy-filled because I am not always protecting my image. Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Seven

Today, Saint Francis is one of the most popular saints. But he wasn't so popular during his life time. At least when he first started out! He was thought a fool of the worst kind! He had everything going for him and he threw it all away to wear ragged clothes, eat food that was thrown to the dogs, and sleep in a ruined church that didn't even have a proper roof to keep out the rain. In many ways we too must live a "fool's" life if we want to be true followers of Christ. We may not live as radical as Saint Francis did but each day we are called to make choices that will determine who we are following. The clothes we wear, the food we eat, where we work, the people we associate with ... all these are silent witnesses of just how committed we are to living the Christian life. Saint Francis, help me to become more committed to living my life totally as a follower of Jesus Christ. Give me the courage and boldness to live totally for God each day. Make known to me any changes I need to do to make this possible. Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Eight

Francis lived a free and simple life,

but it was not without certain imposed boundaries.

These boundaries

were the words and life of Jesus.

His life was guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He was not a very learned or educated man,

he accepted the gospels

as they were presented

and lived them. Completely.

It was enough to make him

one of the greatest saints

of all time. Saint Francis,

you loved God

and took Him completely

at His Word.

Help me to do that too.

Amen.

Novena Prayer - Day Nine

Each religious order has a certain charism about it

that sets it apart from others.

Though to some extent

all share the same gospel values -

usually one area is more emphasized than another.

While many associate the spirit of Poverty or Joy with Franciscans

one must not discard lightly the great spirit of "fraternity"

that is so present among all the brothers and sisters of the order.

"See how they love one another"

must always be the witness of every christian.

How we relate to one another,

how we treat differences among ourselves

with respect and understanding -

is always the bottom line

in every walk of faith.

Not how much we know,

how much we suffer,

or give up

but always and forever -

how much we love one another.

Saint Francis, 
I know there is no
greater virtue than love
to draw souls to God.
Help me to let go of self
and embrace my brothers and sisters
with the great love and
generosity God is asking of me.
Amen. 




Prayer for Peace

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.