Novena to St. Francis of Paola

April 2nd.

1. O glorious St. Francis, born blind, but miraculously healed, who found your greatest delight from your tenderest infancy in solid piety, austere penances, and a close imitation of the seraph of Assissium, to whom you had been dedicated before your birth: obtain for me, of the Lord, the grace to apply all my powers from this time to the fervent service of my God, and to imitate those saints who were assigned to me as protectors and models. Gloria.

2. O glorious St. Francis, who, at the tender age of fourteen, despising all the allurements of the world and the flesh, concealed yourself in solitude, and abhorring all vain complacency, secretly fled away from those who admired your singular virtue: obtain for me, of the Lord, the grace to fly with the greatest care all the pomps and honours of the world, and to desire no other glory but that of being your true disciple, and the faithful follower of Christ crucified. Gloria.

3. O glorious St. Francis, who wast raised by God to found an order most conspicuous for rigour and austerity of life: obtain for me, of the Lord, the grace to subdue my flesh, by the continual practice of evangelical mortification. Gloria.

4. O glorious St. Francis, who, inspired by the most generous faith, drew water out of rocks, passed unhurt through fire, walked without injury upon the waves of the sea, with a single word restored the sick to health, and raised the dead to life: obtain for me to have always a lively confidence in the assistance of God, that I may remain tranquil amidst all human events, and desire no help but that of heaven in all my necessities. Gloria.

5. O glorious St. Francis, who never experienced the smallest emotion of vainglory, though you saw prostrate at your feet, princes and kings to listen to your advice: obtain for us the grace to be always humble amidst honours, referring to God alone all the success of our undertakings. Gloria.

6. O glorious St. Francis, who, by the meekness of your conduct, and the sweetness of your words, changed into friends and admirers those who had dared to attack the holiness of your life, and the truth of your miracles: obtain for me the grace never to resent, in the slightest degree, any injury which I may receive from my enemies, but continually pray to God for their reformation and salvation. Gloria.

7. O glorious St. Francis, who, endowed with extraordinary light, predicted to the king of Naples his victory over the Turks, to the monarch of Spain his triumph over the Moors, to the king of France the sudden termination of his life, to the Cardinal della Revere, the honour of the Supreme Pontificate, and the future approbation of your new institute: obtain for me, I pray you, the grace to rule my life solely by the supernatural light from heaven, reposing entirely upon those who are the interpreters of God’s will upon earth. Gloria.

8. O glorious St. Francis, who, notwithstanding your angelic life, considered yourself unworthy to receive priestly ordination, and to administer the sacred mysteries, calling yourself the least amongst men: obtain for me, I pray, the grace always to remember my unworthiness of all the gifts of heaven, and to love humiliations and contempt all the days of my life, that I may obtain that glory in eternity which is promised to the meek and humble of heart. Gloria.

9. O glorious St. Francis, who, burning with the most ardent charity, wast sometimes led to tears of tenderness, and at others wast raised into ecstasies by hearing simply the names of Jesus and Mary: obtain for me, I pray, the grace to burn with the most perfect charity towards God and my neighbour, so that, having like you, made charity the distinctive work of all my labours, I may merit to share the eternal recompense promised to true lovers. Gloria.