SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISSI: NOVENA AND TRANSITUS
Day ONE
Theme: FAITH
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading : LM 2:
4 P. 538 – Francis of Assisi
4)
Reflection on Faith
Faith is a treasure at our disposal
from where we draw strength and wisdom when the need arises. It is a priceless
gift in our interior. Faith is to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. In
the midst of difficulties of life, our faith allows us to cling to certain
things and beliefs with steadfastness, simply that God exists and knows it all.
If we take our faith for granted then we will take our vocation for granted as
well. It is with faith that we accepted our call from God and with faith we
should live it. Faith is believing and living all that the church teaches and
practices: in God as one and three persons, in the sacraments especially
Eucharist, in the traditions of the church and in the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Without faith, no meaning and no reason for living because it is the foundation
of the Christian life in general and the religious life in particular. .Faith
is not a thing or an ideology but a relationship with God. St. Francis was a
man of faith and so as his followers let us follow his example.
5) Prayers of the Faithful
(Intercessions)
R/ Lord, increase our faith
- We render immense gratitude to you Lord, for the gift of
faith in our lives. It is one of the greatest gifts we received from you
through our parents. We ask you to bless, guide, and reward them and all those
who nursed the seed of faith in our hearts.
- We recommend to you, Almighty Father and loving God, all
the young people in the world whose lives have become meaningless and are
carried away by strange doctrines and sects. Touch their hearts, re-orientate
their lives and draw them back to you.
- St Francis was a man of faith; help us his
followers to grow in faith, and may that faith enkindle the fire of your love
in the people among whom we live and work.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…
6)
Concluding Prayer
Grant, we beseech you, o lord that
we may acknowledge in our deeds what we profess in our faith so that others
through them may come to know God. Increase our faith and help us to grow in
it. Through Christ our lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day TWO
Theme:
HOPE
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading : Letter
to the Rulers of the people, P. 58 (Francis of Assisi
4) Reflection on Hope
Hope is the virtue by which we trust
that God always keeps His promises. The Psalmist expresses it thus: “In God
alone is my soul at rest, my help comes form him, he alone is my rock, my
stronghold, my fortress on which I stand firm” (Ps 62). Hope moves us to trust
that the God in whom we believe will always love and care for us. Hope is a
gift from God. He does not promise or assure us comfort, fulfillment,
perfection, ease and bliss but assures us His love, care, mercy and life. There
are times everything seems dark, meaningless, cold and no reason to live the
type of life we have chosen. In such moments we need hope. When you say “yes”
to God in religious life, it is for ever i.e. continue the good fight to the
end in the midst of doubt, confusion and frustration. St. Francis was a man of
hope. Follow him and have that hope.
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Comfort us Lord, source of all consolation and Hope
- In the
midst of trials, sufferings and sickness, may we always ask God for the virtue
of hope so as to live like his children who believe firmly that there is a better
life than this to come.
- We pray
for those who are sick, desperate and lonely, and feel hopeless, that through
the intercession of the Virgin Mary they may always have hope of a better life,
joy and everlasting peace in the future.
- Men and women religious have abandoned
everything to follow Christ with the sure hope of receiving their heavenly rewards. May their hope not
be in vain.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory
be…
6) Concluding Prayer
Give
us your spirit that we may never be in despair but hope that you are there and are with us
especially in the midst of difficulties
and problems. May nothing take away that hope from us. Through Christ our lord.
7) Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day THREE
Theme:
CHARITY
1)
Opening
Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture
Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection on charity
Love is love of God and His people.
The vows we profess are an expression of our love of God. Love is a unifying
principle that gives meaning and purpose to the life we live and to everything
we do and we are called upon to radiate that love. As imitators of Christ, we
have to have the type of love Christ had. Wherever there is love, there is a
cross and where there is a cross, there is a victim. Where there is love there
is always a sacrifice i.e. we have to forgo something
in order to love. The cross is part of our religious life. There are
difficulties in living it so it can only be lived with love. “What therefore
can separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom.
5) Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ May your love
reign in our hearts, Lord
-We entrust to your special care all cheerful givers and benefactors
of our entire order. May you, source of
all goodness, fill their hearts with your peace and joy.
- Through the
intercession of St. Francis, may our Holy Mother, the Church, lead us to
re-discover the mystery of love so as to bear abundant fruit for the Lord.
- Our
seraphic Father often said; the brothers have to be good so that the world may
give them what to live on. May these words of Francis enter the hearts and
minds of men and women of good will and inspire them to help sustain us in our
ministry.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…
6)Concluding
Prayer
Everything tends to good for those
who love you Father. Grant us the courage to love others and really see the
need to do so. Give us your spirit so
that nothing will prevent us from
loving others. Through Christ our lord.
7) Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day FOUR
Theme:
PRAYER LIFE
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection on Prayer
Prayer is a conversation with God.
It is a daily rendering of our lives to God and through it we come to know who
really He is and what He wants of us. The core and
foundation of our lives is in Prayer. A Franciscan who does not pray is not
worth it because he ought to follow St. Francis who not only prayed but had
become prayer. In true prayer God challenges us to leave behind certain bad
habits and gives us what to do for him. Prayer is telling how we feel or how we
are now to God and listening to what He has to tell us on how to live and what
to do. St. Francis saw prayer as one of his life’s foundations and as his
followers we must place prayer at the center of our lives.
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Holy Spirit, teach
us how to pray
- Many
Christians and some friars have lost the zeal to pray under the pretext of lack
of time. Let us remember that the “one who has no time for prayers does not
have life in him and start to pray fervently.
- Far
from any formality, prayer should help us to listen to God in our lives, to
read the signs of the Times and to contribute to the salvation of the world.
May we discover our personal vocation and the will of God for each of us
through fervent and constant prayers.
- Let us
pray that through our prayers and our apostolate, we may be a source of
inspiration for others, helping them to see
the place and importance of prayers in their lives.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be….
6)
Concluding Prayer
Lord
Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Olives, you taught us in word and example to
pray in order to overcome temptations.
Grant us the grace to be devoted to prayer and so reap abundant fruits
from it. Through Christ our Lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day FIVE
Theme: FRATERNITY
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection on Fraternity
St.
Francis said: the superior should be the first among equals. He also said I
want my brothers to consider themselves, sons of the same mother and added that
if any brother requires a tunic or a cord or anything else, another brother
should give it to him gladly. A Franciscan community is like a family that
shares a common home and table though having different careers and apostolate
to be done. Community or fraternal life is built on authority that sees itself
as that of service. It is a relationship of love where one sees oneself as
loved by others in the fraternity. Franciscan fraternity means sharing our
personal gifts with others. It means having a common purpose where we can only
go out on apostolic work as agreed in a common fraternal way. A good fraternity
should have or brothers should participate in one Eucharistic celebration, at
least one common daily meal and share one recreation. It is a place of
encountering others. Fraternal life does not just come so after our initial
formation, to live it, we have to be conscious that we build it daily and make an effort to live in
it. It calls for serious openness and accountability. There must be a sense of
joyful belonging. St Francis had to adjust himself because of others as he said
the “Lord gave me brothers to live with”.
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Lord, help us to live together lovingly
- Almighty God, you called your disciples from different works of life
to come together and bear witness to the truth and your teaching. May we who
desire to follow you through the example of St Francis in spite of our
differences, lay down our lives for our brothers by living lovingly together.
- Let us pray for all Franciscan brothers all over the world, that
through the example of St Francis they may leave behind their differences and
live in unity, peace and love.
- St
Francis was a man of peace, so let us pray that through his intercession and
example, countries and in families may experience the true peace that comes
from the Lord.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be….
6)
Concluding Prayer
Lord, through
the intercession of St Francis, help us to care for one another and
help us to see your face in each brother we live with, so as to be their
keepers. May we inspire one another to live this life even in the midst of
difficulties. Through Christ our Lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day SIX
Theme: LOVING OBEDIENCE
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection on Loving Obedience
In
order of vows St Francis placed obedience first. As the brothers were
increasing, in order to prevent mediocrity he puts first obedience to God,
obedience to his ideals and obedience to the authority of the order. In the
“praises of the virtues”, he says “Holy obedience puts to shame all natural and
selfish desires. It mortifies our lower nature and makes it obey the spirit and
our fellow men. Jesus was obedient even to death. The obedience of the Virgin
Mary corrected the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The society today resists
obedience to the ten Commandments of God, confession, etc. The future of our
lives as religious lies in obedience. Obeying the will of God through superiors
is truly a road on which one cannot go wrong. Our obedience to our superior
must show itself in our loyalty in word and in deed, dialoguing and supporting
his programmes and speaking well of him in his absence.
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Lord, may
your will be done.
- Lord
Jesus, you obeyed your Father in all aspects, bitter or sweet, right up to
death and even death on the cross. Help us by your example to exercise this
loving obedience to our superiors through whom you speak to us in the life you
have called us to live.
- Lord,
help all brothers who no longer live in obedience to know that through their
profession, they had handed over their wills to you and therefore listen to you
through their superiors.
- Lord,
help citizens of each country in the world to obey and abide by the good laws
of their country.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…
6)
Concluding Prayer
May the
obedient example of your son our Lord Jesus Christ help us to be obedient to
your will through our superiors so that we may become holy, humble, chaste,
simple and loving. Help us with your Spirit to place our plans, desires and our
wills at your disposal in our Order. Through Christ our Lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day SEVEN
Theme:
HUMILITY / MINORITY
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection of Humility and Minority
Humility was our Lord’s favorite
virtue. The scriptures are full of his advice on humility and in it, Jesus
praises many people who were humble. St Francis took his footstep
and is called the humble poor man of Assisi
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Lord, make us meek and humble of
heart
-Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself in loving obedience to your Father up to
the point of dying on the cross because you knew your will was to do His Will.
Help us your followers to be meek and humble of heart.
- Our
Seraphic Father Francis was an example of humility; help us his followers to
imitate his wonderful model of life.
- Lord,
help all Christians to be humble enough so as to be your true followers and enjoy the richness of their Christian
vocation.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…
6)
Concluding Prayer
O Lord, you
give your grace only to the humble, not to the proud of heart. Endow us with
the virtue of humility in order to imitate the humble Christ and St
Francis. Never allow us to be proud but to lower ourselves in order to receive
your grace. Through Christ our Lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
Day EIGTH
Theme:
POVERTY
1)
Opening Hymn (St Francis)
2)
Scripture Reading
3)
Franciscan Reading
4)
Reflection on Poverty
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Jesus said, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”. Francis and early brothers
took literally these words of Jesus and made them their own by living them. For
St Francis, it was sufficient to be poor for the sake of Christ. To
be poor means to hate and detest everything, which till this moment, you have
loved and longed to have as your own. Poverty is a way of acting and choosing.
To be poor for most people means a negative thing but essentially it is
something positive. To be poor means to some extend to be without the things
which most people long for: money, necessities of life, security, honour etc.
To accept poverty cheerfully and voluntary is a virtue. It is truly a virtue
when we live it for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. To St
Francis it is a source of joy that makes one to be united with God. Poverty is
to St Francis a treasure to be sought, a valuable pearl of great
price that a man will sell all that he has in order to obtain it. For Francis
it was the object of his love and devotion hence he called poverty Lady
poverty. Summarily, poverty is an ideal to be worked for, guarded and
cherished. Secondly, it is a form of self-sacrifice, a denial of normal human
instincts in order that life may be offered to God. It makes one dependent on
God rather than on one’s resources. Lastly it enables one to be charitable.
5)
Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)
R/ Lord, make us to cherish poverty as you did
- Lord,
your word says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for the Kingdom of heaven
belongs to them. Lord, make us poor in spirit so that we may see your presence
in our lives here on earth and in the life to come.
- It was
through a life of poverty and detachment that St Francis was able to
see you face to face, help us through his intercession to take off our minds
from worldly and material things and to set our eyes on the things of Heaven.
- Lord,
help all Christians to set their hearts and their minds only on heavenly things
so that the world may be rid of vices that the quest for material things
brings.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…
6)
Concluding Prayer
O God, you
helped St Francis to detach himself from all things in order to live
poor as your Son did. Help us to use the things you have given us in a
judicious way in order to love you alone with our whole hearts. Through Christ
our Lord.
7)
Final Hymn (Thanksgiving)
THE
TRANSITUS OF ST. FRANCIS
Entrance song
Introduction:
what is the Transitus
Leader St. Francis died about sunset on October 3rd
1226.He recited the psalm 142,and at the closing words of the Psalm his blessed
soul passed from Earth to Heaven. The passing (transitus) of St. Francis is
usually commemorated at sunset October 3rd.
THE NARRATIVE OF THE DEATH OF FRANCIS
COMPILED FROM THE EARLY SOURCES ON HIS LIFE
1st reader: When
Brother Francis knew he was approaching death, he burning desire to begin again
in all humility. A although he had to moderate his great austerities on the
order of hid doctor, nevertheless he said:
2nd
reader Brother, let us begin to
serve the Lord God now, for up to now we have made little or no progress
1st reader once
again he wishes to go and nurse the lepers, as he did in those early days of
his new life .He made up his mind
to seclude himself in some remote place, so that only the wall of the flesh
would stand between God and himself meanwhile his illness increased and his
strength so failed that he could hardly move himself at all. He asked Brother
Elias to have him brought back to Assisi Assisi
2nd reader: this
place is truly holy and is the dwelling place of God. Here, when we were but
few the Most high gave us increase here he enlightened the hearts of his poor
by the light of wisdom
1st reader When his illness increased he called
together the brothers who were there, and he blessed each one of them, as it
was given to him from above, just as the patriach Jacob of old had blessed his
son, and like another Moses who enriched the children if Israel with his
blessing when about to climb the mountain of God. While brother Elias was at
his lift side, with the other brothers standing around, Francis crossed his
right hand over his lift and placed his right hand on the head of brother
Elias, and being blind he asked: “on whom am I holding my right hand? “They
said: “ on brother Elias”. Upon this, he answered:
2nd reader: that
is what I want: and you, my son, I blessed above all and through out all: and
just as the most high has multiplied my brothers and sons in your house, so
also I bless them upon you and in you. May a share of the reward of the just
been reserved for you.
1st reader some
time afterward, when he knew the time of his death had come, he called all his
brothers together once more. He comforted them in their sorrow at his
approaching death. Convinced that the end was near, one of the brothers whom
Francis loved very much addressed him: “father, your sons are now without a
father; remember your orphan sons whom are now leaving, forgive them all their
fault”. The Saints said to him:
Song
2nd reader I
forgive my brothers, both present and absent, all their offences and faults and
insofar as I am able, I absolved them. I want you to announce this to them on
my behalf.
1st reader full
of fatherly affection, Francis began to talk to his brothers about God’s love,
about practicing patience and poverty, as he had once impressed upon them in
the rule.
2nd reader the
brothers must serve the Lord in poverty and humility as pilgrims and strangers
in this world, because the Lord himself was poor on earth. This is the pinnacle
of the most exalted poverty, and it is this, my dearest brothers, that has made
you heirs and Kings of the Kingdom
of Heaven
1st reader with
discerning clarity of mind Francis foresaw the coming scandal by which many of
his brothers would become unfaithful to the Rule. Therefore he wanted to leave
them a reminder, an admonition and exhortation to live the Rule, as a covenant
he had once made with the poor son of Man.
2nd reader this
is how God inspired me, Brother Francis, to embark upon a life of penance. When
I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure: but then God
himself lead me in to their company, and I had pity on them. When I had once
become acquainted with them, what previously nauseated me became a source of
spiritual and physical consolation for me. After that I did not wait long
before leaving the word. And God inspired me with such faith in his churches
that I use to with all simplicity, saying: We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ,
here and in all your churches in the whole world, and we bless you because by
your holy cross you have redeemed the word. God inspired me too and still
inspires me with such great faith in priests that I would be ready to turn to
them for help, even if they persecuted me. I do this, because in this world I
cannot see the most high son of God with my on eyes, except for his most holy
Body and Blood, which they receive and they alone administer to others.
1st reader grateful and respectful, the brothers
listened to the wonderful deed, which the lord had performed among them. They
would have love one another, be faithful to our Lady holy poverty, show
themselves submissive to the prelates of the holy roman church and serve them,
as a sign of his blessing and their covenant. At this Francis’ soul rejoice and
he said:
M. celebrant Now let us recite allowed the Canticle Of
Brother Sun:
Leader: most high
omnipotent Good Lord,
To you
praise, glory and honour and all benediction.
To you alone, most high, to they belong
And
there is no one worthy to mention you.
Praised
be my lord
By
means of all your creatures,
And
most especially by Sir Brother sun,
Who
makes the day, and illumines us by his light:
For he
is beautiful and radiant with great splendor
And is
symbol of you, God most high.
Praised
be my Lord
By
means of Sister moon and all the stars:
For in
heaven you have placed them,
Clear,
precious and fair.
Praised
be my Lord, by means of brother wind,
And by
means of the air, the clouds,
And the
clear sky and every kind of weather,
Through
which you give your creatures nourishment.
Praised
be my Lord, by means of sister water
For she
is very useful, humble, precious and chaste.
Praised
be my lord, by means of brother fire,
By whom
you do illumine the night:
For he
is fair, gay and mighty and strong.
Praised
be my Lord.
By
means of our sister mother earth.
Which
sustains us and keeps us,
And
brings forth varied fruits
With
colored flowers and leaves.
Praised
be my Lord,
Through
those who give pardon for love of you,
And
suffer infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are they, who endure all in peace,
For
they, O God most High,
Will be
crowned by you.
Praised
be my lord through our sister Bodily Death,
From
whom no living person can escape.
Woe to
those who die in mortal sin!
But
blessed are those found in your most holy will
For the
second death will do them no harm.
Praise
and bless my Lord.
And
thank Him, And serve Him with great humility
People: PRAISE
AND BLESS MY LORD AND GIVE THANKS.
1st reader then
Francis ordered the book of the Gospels to be bought, and asked for the Gospel
according to St. John
M celebrant The lord be
with you
All standing And also with
you
M celebrant: A reading from
the Gospel according to John.
It was
before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for
him to pass to the father. He had always loved those who were his own in the
world. But now he showed how perfect his love was, they were at supper. And the
devil had already put it in to the mind of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to
betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put every thing in to his hand, and
that he had come from God and was returning to God: and he got up from the
table, he removed his outer garment, and taking a towel, wrapped it around his
waist. He then poured water in to a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet
and wipe them with the towel he was wearing. “
BRIEF REFLECTION
1st reader then
Francis and himself placed naked upon the ground, placed thus with his garment
of sackcloth, he raised his countenance to heaven, and giving his attention
entirely to that glory, he covered the wound in his right side with his lift
hand. Then he said to his brothers:
2nd reader I
have done what was mine to do: may Christ teach you what you are to do.
1st reader meanwhile,
Francis’ guardian hurriedly arose, and taking a habit he said to Francis:
“Realize that this
habit had been rent to you by me. I take away from you all authority to give it
to any one else,” then Francis rejoiced, for he saw that he had kept faith with
lady poverty to the very end. Now he commanded that bread be brought to him. He
blessed and broke it and gave a small piece of it to each one to eat. He was
recalling the Most Holy Supper, which the Lord celebrated, and he did all these
in memory of that supper to show the deep love, he had for his brothers. As it
is written in the Gospel.
2nd reader “Now
as they were eating Jesus took some, and when he had said the blessing he broke
it and gave it to the disciples: “take it and eat” he said, “This is my Body”.
Then he took a cup filled with wine, and when he had given thanks he gave it to
them: “drink all of you from this” he said “ for this is my Blood, the Blood of
the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin.”
1st reader The
time that remained before his death Francis spent in praying, and he commanded
his companions to praise Christ with him. In as far as he was able, he broke
forth into this Psalm: “to the Lord I cry, I plead”
Ant:
O most holy soul, at whose entrance into eternity the citizens of
Heaven come forth, choirs of Angels
rejoice, and the glorious
Trinity invites, saying: Abide with us for ever.
PSALM 142 (chanted in two choirs)
With
all my voice I cry to the Lord,
With
all my voice I entreat the Lord.
I
pour nut my troubles before him:
I
tell him all my distress
While
my spirit faints within me.
But
you, O Lord, know my path.
On
the way where I shall walk
They
have hidden a snare to entrap me.
Look
on right and see:
There
is no one who takes my part
I
have no means of escape,
Not
one who cares for my soul.
I
cry to you, O Lord
I
have said: you are my refuge,
All
I have in the land of the living
Listen,
then, to my cry
For
I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue
me from those who pursue me
For
they are stronger than I.
Bring
my soul out of the prison
And
then I shall praise your name.
Around
me the just will assemble
Because
of your goodness to me.
All knee for a SOLEMN SILENCE
(After the silence celebrant leads 5 Paters, Aves and Glorias may be
said with arms extended)
Ant:
O most holy soul, at whose entrance into eternity the citizens of
Heaven come forth, choirs of Angels
Rejoice, and the Glorious Trinity invites, saying: Abide with us
forever.
M celebrant: Hail Holy
Father, glory of the country model of Minors, Mirror of virtue, way of rectitude,
rule of conduct; from this exile lead us to the kingdom on high.
The
poor and humble Francis enter Heaven rich
All: amid
heavenly songs of praise
M celebrant: Let us pray:
O God,
who gave to the soul of our holy father, St. Francis, the reward of everlasting
bliss, be pleased to grant that we, who with loving hearts celebrate the memory
of his departure, may deserve to obtain the same happiness for our reward.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
M.
celebrant: May the Lord bless you and keep
you.
All: Amen.
M.
celebrant: May He turn his face to you
and have mercy on you.
All: Amen.
M.
celebrant: May he turn his countenance
to you and give you peace.
All: Amen.
M. celebrant: And may the
blessing of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Descend
upon you and remain with you forever.
All: Amen.
Song: Make
me Lord…
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