Novena to St. Francis of Assisi (Nine Days)

FIRST DAY.

Consideration on the humility of St. Francis of Assisi.

The more St. Francis was esteemed by men, the more he humbled himself. He considered himself the greatest sinner in the world; and his idea of the sanctity of the priesthood was so great that he believed himself utterly unworthy of it, and therefore he would never consent to receive holy orders. To deceive those who thought well of him, he made his faults known to all, or ordered one of his companions to overwhelm him with reproaches and insults. He listened to them with pleasure, and thanked those who thus addressed him for having spoken the truth. Obedience was to him the greatest happiness. Although he was the founder and head of his order, he resigned the government of it, and declared that he was as willing to obey the youngest novice as the most ancient religious. Therefore, it is that the Church, which is the best judge of the virtue of the saints, has given him by excellence the title of "the humble." It is also in recompense of his humility that he has obtained in heaven one of the highest of those thrones of which the rebel angels were deprived in consequence of their pride.

PRAYER.

O my Saviour, it is from your instructions that St. Francis has learned this deep humility. He has advanced in it with giant strides, whilst I, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed with guilt, know not how to subdue the pride of my heart; grant me, I beseech Thee, the help of Thy Divine grace, to humble myself as I ought, and that I may never again be led astray by the spirit of pride, grant, O my God, that imitating this great saint, I may conform myself always to your divine example, and unite myself always to your cross. O glorious St. Francis, may your humility be my model, that, like you, I may desire to see myself beneath the feet of all, and that I may never forget that my true happiness consists not in earthly honours, but in suffering humiliations, and in rejoicing in them for the love of my God.

Three Our Fathers—Hail Mary, and Gloria—Hymn, versicle and prayer of the saint.

SECOND DAY.

On the poverty of St. Francis.

Evangelical poverty may be said to have been the favourite virtue of St. Francis of Assisi. When his father urged him to renounce his patrimony, the saint gave up all, even to the very clothes he wore, and henceforward poverty was his only heritage. It appeared to him an inestimable gift. He had asked it of God with many tears and fervent prayers. When at Rome he had addressed himself to the prince of the apostles to obtain it, and he, favourable to so holy a prayer, assured him that God had granted him this grace. He called poverty his sister, his mother, his spouse, his queen, and he always spoke of it with peculiar affection. He saw with grief the contempt and estrangement which men felt for it, and he omitted nothing to attract their hearts towards it, to win their esteem for it. If he met any one who appeared more destitute than himself, he reproached himself severely, and was filled with a holy emulation that none should surpass him in his love for his dear poverty. In a word, no one ever desired riches so ardently as he desired to be poor for the love of God.

PRAYER.

O my sweet Jesus, who can recall without the tenderest emotion the extreme poverty which Thou and Thy blessed Mother didst suffer for our sakes? It was this thought which caused Francis to weep, to meditate so constantly. As soon as he had discovered the excellence of a virtue which was so dear to you, and which you cherished in so wonderful a manner, he excited in himself such an ardent desire for it, that he could not rest without having obtained it. Ah, Lord! grant that, touched by such powerful motives, I may likewise divest myself of all ill-regulated affection for the things of earth, that I may say with truth, like my seraphic father, "Deus meus et omnia," my God is my all. O, my holy patron, obtain for me one drop of that ineffable sweetness which you found in poverty. May I no longer regard it with the eyes of blinded worldlings, but with those of your mind, that I may be touched by the powerful attractions of the most poor life of Jesus and Mary. Our Father, &c.

THIRD DAY.

The penitence of St. Francis.

One of the blessed companions of St. Francis said, that if he had been gifted as he had wished, with a stronger constitution and more robust health, no one would have exceeded him in the practice of a life of mortification and penance. Even from the first period of his conversion he observed so many lents during the year that one seemed only a continuation of that which preceded it, so that his fasts were continual. His most delicate nourishment was but a few herbs seasoned with ashes, or a little water. If during sickness he was compelled to take meat, he did penance for it as soon as the necessity of using it had ceased, and then increased his ordinary privations and added new mortifications to them. Hair-cloth disciplines, watchings, and tears were his greatest pleasure. He overcame temptations by casting himself into the snow, amongst thorns, or into the fire. He constantly sought for and found new ways of macerating his body. He had so inured himself to suffering, that the flesh was ever submissive to the spirit, so that if his will inclined him to some fresh exercise of virtue, his flesh, far from manifesting repugnance to it, seemed rather willing to aid him to fulfil his desire.

PRAYER.

O, my blessed Saviour, how different is the conduct of St. Francis to mine! He led a pure and holy life, and yet he treated himself with the greatest severity, whilst I, though overwhelmed with sin, seek only to gratify my senses, and am alarmed even at the idea of penance. O my God, may the example of Thy life, which was one continual suffering, withdraw me from this dangerous slumber, and encourage me rather to suffer a thousand deaths than to offend Thee by gratifying my passions. Such is my firm resolution, since nothing can be more contradictory than to behold a head crowned with thorns and one of its members immersed in worldly pleasures. And thou, O illustrious penitent, thou who in dying didst ask pardon of thy body for having treated it too roughly, permit not that I should so forget, through my false delicacy to mortify mine, as to be obliged to repent uselessly that I have served it but too well.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

FOURTH DAY.

The patience of St. Francis.

Jesus crucified appeared to St. Francis of Assisi, and the saint in the depth of his heart heard these words, "If you desire to be my disciple, renounce yourself, take up your cross, and follow me;" and immediately obeying the celestial voice, he embraced his cross with heroic patience. He had many opportunities of bearing it in the perfect life which he undertook. His austerities reduced him to extreme weakness, many thought that he had lost his reason; they reviled him; they neither spared him insult or injury; they went so far as even to throw stones and dirt on him, but he went on his way as if he did not perceive it. He bore with the same courage the ill-treatment of his father, of robbers, of the Saracens, and even of the demons. He was afflicted with various severe and painful sicknesses. In his latter years his emaciation was so great that he appeared almost like a skeleton; nothing remained but skin and bone. Nevertheless he cherished his sufferings as heavenly gifts, and he drank the bitter chalice so willingly that his religious were amazed beyond measure, and believed they beheld another Job, whose mind seemed to increase in vigour even in proportion as his body decayed.

PRAYER.

O my Saviour, when shall I find in the wearinesses and sufferings of this life as much pleasure as I now find in rest and consolation? In order to accomplish this I have only to reflect on your holy Passion, then I would adore and love your holy will in all things; but this is one of the great gifts of the Holy Spirit. I ask it of you, O my God, with the deepest humility of heart, I am confident that you will grant it to me, and from this hour I will return thanks for all the afflictions that may befall me. Alas! even should they be increased a hundredfold, they will never exceed the number of my sins. I will consider it a happiness to be allowed to suffer with you, and rejoice only in your cross. May your sufferings, O glorious St. Francis, help to strengthen my weakness, and to convince me of the truth you so loved to teach; that the perfect joy, the true happiness and glory of those who serve God consists in suffering willingly for Him.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

FIFTH DAY.

Charity of St. Francis of Assisi. His love of God.

St. Francis was so animated with divine love, that he resembled a seraph, it is for this reason that he is commonly called the seraphic. Whilst still young he formed a resolution never to refuse anything that was asked him for the love of God, and he observed it faithfully to the end of his life. It was this love which made him despoil himself of all that he had before the Bishop of Assisi, and led him from henceforth to live a heavenly life. It was this love which made him thrice seek the camp of the infidels, that he might shed his blood for the glory of God. This love was the motive of all that he undertook for the welfare of others. He thought he could not be the friend of God unless he laboured incessantly for the good of souls purchased by the Blood of Jesus Christ. At the very mention of the word, love of God, he was immediately inflamed with a celestial fire which frequently caused prolonged and wonderful ecstasies. In fine, as St. Francis of Sales has remarked, it was the vehemence of this divine fire which occasioned the death of this holy patriarch.

PRAYER.

O my Saviour, the seraphic Doctor St. Bonaventura has truly said that St. Francis resembled a burning coal absorbed in the fire of your love. How confounded should I be, O my God! All creatures were so many steps by which this blessed father ascended to Thee, and furnished food for the divine love which consumed him; but as for me they are only an occasion of increased relaxation, a means of falling into sin, or of continually offending Thy Divine Majesty; vouchsafe to pardon me, O! my God; grant me, I beseech Thee, one spark of that heavenly fire which enkindled Thy blessed servant, that, following his example, I may seek only to please Thee, and consecrate myself entirely to Thy glory. And thou, O seraph of love, who excellest so exceedingly in the love of God, do not refuse me the help which I implore. Draw, by your example, all my inclinations towards this ocean of goodness, that I may henceforth fear nothing but to offend my God, and may my only consolation be to labour and suffer for His love.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

SIXTH DAY.

The love of St. Francis for his neighbour.

Whoever could have penetrated into the heart of St. Francis of Assisi, would have found there a happy combination of tenderness and charity for his neighbour. While still young he gave his own clothes to a poor soldier, and often he cut or tore off part of his garments to give them to those who were in want. The service of the leper was one of his favourite occupations, he beheld in their sufferings a representation of what Christ has suffered for us. He could not even see a poor person without the tenderest pity. But the principal object of his charity was the welfare of souls. He desired to convert and sanctify the whole world, for this he neither spared himself tears or labour. He was not satisfied with employing his disciples, but gave himself up to seek for souls. With this end in view, he journeyed through many countries and kingdoms, and the vineyard of the Lord, thus watered by him, produced celestial fruit in abundance.

PRAYER.

Eternal thanks to Thee, O sweet Jesus, for all the good which the amazing charity of Francis has effected throughout the world. Alas! how far I am from imitating his blessed example. How often excessive love of self causes me to forget what I owe to others. But I repent now of my obduracy. Yes, my God, from henceforth I will see in each of my brethren another self. Since sin is the greatest evil which can befall them, deign to afflict me as it pleases Thee, but preserve them from this misfortune; for it is but just to place the salvation of souls before all things, since Thou hast given Thy life for this end. And you, O great saint, whose compassionate bounty I implore, obtain for me a heart like thine, that I may behold my neighbour, not with the prejudice of self-love, but with the sweet bond of charity which unites me to him by the profession of Christianity, and by the life and doctrine of the Saviour.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

SEVENTH DAY.

The devotion of St. Francis of Assisi towards the Divine Mysteries.

The ardent charity of St. Francis of Assisi, which caused him to lose all relish for the things of earth, inspired him at the same time with the most elevated sentiments for divine things. He honoured the great festivals of the Church by long lents, which consisted not merely in fasts, but in pious meditations and other exercises of his tender piety. He had a special devotion to the feast of the Nativity. One day he celebrated it with such fervour, and in so touching a manner, that all the assistants were deeply moved. Our Lord, to recompense His servant, condescended to appear to him as a little Infant lying on the crib which he had prepared. ² This holy patriarch wept bitterly when he thought of the Passion of Jesus. It was his mirror, his book, and the ordinary subject of his discourse. Every one was penetrated with devotion when he approached to the Holy Table, and the sweetness which he experienced often ravished him into ecstasy. The greatness and virtues of the Blessed Virgin excited his admiration, and he could not think of her, nor of the angels and saints, without redoubling his love of God.

PRAYER.

It was thus, O my sweet Jesus, that St. Francis drew from Thy divine mysteries as from an inexhaustible and heavenly mine the immense treasures of perfection, and I think it a great thing if I honour them by some trifling marks of exterior devotion, even while my mind is full of a thousand follies. Ah, Lord, shed upon me the resplendent light of Thy divine countenance, that I may know Thy holy will. I adore Thee, and love Thee, in Thy life, and in Thy death; in Thy spotless Mother, and in Thy saints; but deign to show me Thy will and my duty, in order that the true spirit of your holy laws may animate my worship, and that I may offer you with my praises the sacrifice of my sinful inclinations. And thou, O most glorious Francis, perfect model of devotion, who for the glory of God rebuilt with such love so many churches falling to decay, grant me your help in order that I may myself become a living temple of the Most High, redolent with the perfume of true devotion, and that I may praise my God, not only with my words, but in my heart, by my works, and by every faculty of my being.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

EIGHTH DAY.

The Stigmata or Sacred Wounds of St. Francis.

There are many points of resemblance between the life of St. Francis of Assisi, and that of our Lord Jesus Christ; but the impression of the wounds of our Divine Saviour on the body of the holy Patriarch set as it were the final seal to this resemblance. The Lord appeared to him under the form of a glorious seraphim fastened to a cross, and having by the mere apparition of his surpassing beauty, and by mysterious words of ineffable sweetness wounded his heart with love, He willed still further to wound even the flesh of His humble servant, and impressed on his hands, his feet, and his side a lively image of the wounds which He had Himself suffered on the cross for the salvation of men. This impression was accompanied with excessive pain. By the permission of the Almighty, the holy Patriarch lived for two years bearing thus in his body the precious signs of our redemption. He became a living crucifix dwelling with men, and he could say with the great apostle, "I live, but it is no longer I, it is Christ who lives in me." Vivo ego, jàm non ego vivet verò in me Christus.

PRAYER.

Who can worthily praise Thee, O my Saviour, for so wonderful a work. Doubtless it is not only for Francis that Thou hast accomplished it, it is for me, and for all the faithful. Thou hast willed that the wounds of Thy servant, in recalling Thine to us, should excite us to pay the debt of love which is due to Thee for Thy most bitter Passion. May Thy divine providence be for ever blest. Vouchsafe, O my God, by the merits of Thy saint, to fortify and increase the desire with which his wounds have inspired me, of dying to the world and myself, to live only for Thee, since Thou by Thy death hast become the Author of our true life. And thou, my blessed Father, inflame by the sublime ardour of your heart the joys which your wounds have caused me, in order that while embracing them with profound respect I may understand perfectly the mysterious language with which, as so many heavenly tongues, they address me: "Love your God, who by an excess of goodness has condescended to suffer and die for your love."

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

NINTH DAY.

The Happy Death of St. Francis.

The death of St. Francis was one of the most touching spectacles which the world has ever beheld. This glorious saint had prepared himself for it by exercises of the tenderest piety; and when his last hour arrived he remembered the abnegation of the Saviour on the cross, and would have himself placed on the bare floor to imitate his Lord. The superior then presented him with a habit saying that he gave it to him as an alms, and Francis accepted it, giving thanks to God and full of joy that he could thus die still faithful to his dear poverty. He asked to have the Passion of Christ according to St. John read to him, and then reciting himself the 141st Psalm he passed sweetly to his rest, when he had repeated the words: "Deliver, O Lord, my soul from prison, that I may praise Thy name: the just wait for me, that You may give me the recompense which You have prepared for me." Then his blessed soul was seen ascending to glory in the form of a brilliant star rising up to heaven. His body no longer appeared pale and emaciated, it became fresh and fair. The dark nails which pierced his hands and feet contracted with his wounds; and that in the side now resembled a beautiful rose, so that those who were present were moved even to tears.

PRAYER.

O my Jesus, how precious is the death of Thy saints. When St. Francis felt his last hour approach, he returned Thee a thousand thanks, and desired that his religious should sing Thy praises. I thank Thee for this, O my God, with my whole heart, and beseech Thee by the sacred wounds of Thy servant to grant me grace henceforward to lead a new life. May I be always occupied with promoting Thy divine glory as the only interest I should have in this world, in order that my life may render my death holy, and that whether living or dying I may have the happiness of ever giving Thee glory. Such, O my blessed patron, are the holy desires which are suggested by your blessed passage from this valley of tears to our celestial country, your blessed life could not have been more happily ended. How happy shall I be if I learn to follow your example, if I feel the like sentiments in my dying hour. Far from fearing death, I will rather consider it as my benefactor and my friend; for it will deliver me from the fear of offending God, and will secure to me the happiness of loving Him eternally. May I, through your powerful intercession, obtain this grace. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, &c.

HYMN.

Plaude, turba paupercula.

Come, ye poor ones of your God,
Come and sing your father's praise,
All his merits and his love
Utter in melodious lays.

Simple, humble, full of peace,
Blessings follow where he goes;
Light and joy from every word
That he utters, richly flows.

Poverty is all he asks,
Christ's blest wounds are in his heart,
For to poor ones our dear Lord
Will His richest gifts impart.

Trampling down our three-fold foe,
Thus he wins the victor's crown;
Through the world his teaching still
Gaineth honour and renown.

Poor on earth, but rich in heaven,
Here he wants—but golden store
He shall win who cures the souls
And the bodies of the poor.

Father of the truly poor,
Teach us like thyself to be;
That with thee we may be blest,
Rich for all eternity.

Now to Father and to Son
And Holy Ghost be endless praise,
And may the merits of our saint
Bring us to join angelic lays.

V. Pray for us, O blessed father St. Francis.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

PRAYER.

O God, who, through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new offspring; grant unto us, that, by imitating him, we may despise earthly things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts. Through, &c.