THE SAINTS
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
The Our Father of St Francis of Assisi
When the friars asked him how they should pray St Francis said that they should say the Our Father but, as we see below, the Our Father St Francis gave them was a veritable catechesis on the original Our Father given to us by Our Lord Jesus in the Gospel. Meditation on the Our Father was not unique to St Francis in medieval times, but there is a sense here that St Francis has shared with us the inner vision of his spiritual life.
O OUR Most Holy FATHER
Our Creator, Redeemer, Consoler and Saviour
WHO ARE IN HEAVEN
In the angels and the saints,
enlightening them to love, because You, Lord, are light.
Inflaming them to love, because you, Lord, are love.
Dwelling in them and filling them with happiness,
because you, Lord, are the Supreme Good, the Eternal Good
from Whom comes all good
without Whom there is no good.
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
May our knowledge of you become ever clearer
That we may know the breadth of Your blessings
the length of Your promises
the height of Your majesty
the depths of Your judgements.
YOUR KINGDOM COME
So that You may rule in us through Your grace
and so enable us to come to Your kingdom
where there is an unclouded vision of You
a perfect love of You
a blessed companionship with You
an eternal enjoyment of You.
YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
That we may love You with our whole heart
by always thinking of You
and with our whole soul
by always desiring You
with our whole mind
by directing all our intentions to You
and by seeking Your glory in everything
and with our whole strength
by spending all our energies and affections
of soul and body
in the service of Your love
and of nothing else
and may we love our neighbours as our selves
by drawing them all with our whole strength
to Your love
by rejoicing in the good fortunes of others
as well as our own
and by sympathising with the misfortunes of others
and by giving offence to no one.
GIVE US THIS DAY
In memory and understanding, and reverence
of the love which our Lord Jesus Christ had for us
and of those things which He said and did and suffered for us.
OUR DAILY BREAD
Your own beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES
Through Your ineffable mercy
through the power of the passion of Your Beloved Son
together with the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and all your chosen ones.
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US
and whatever we do not forgive perfectly,
do You, Lord, enable us to forgive to the full
so that we may truly love our enemies
and fervently intercede for them before You
returning no one evil for evil
and striving to help everyone in You.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
Hidden or obvious
Sudden or persistent.
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Past, present and to come.