Praise and Love God: From Writings by Saint Francis of Assisi (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from “The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi” (vegetarian), including letters to His Ministry and the Praises Prayer.

LETTERS OF SAINT FRANCIS TO ALL THE CUSTODES.

“And you shall so announce and preach His praise to all peoples that at every hour and when the bells are rung, praise and thanks shall always be given to the Almighty God by all the people throughout the whole Earth. And to whomsoever of my brothers, custodes, this writing shall come, let them copy it and keep it with them and cause it to be copied for the brothers who have the office of preaching and the care of brothers, and let them unto the end preach all those things that are contained in this writing: let them know they have the blessing of the Lord God and mine. And let these be for them through true and holy obedience.”

PRAYERS OF SAINT FRANCIS THE PRAISES.

“Our Father, most Holy, our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter. Who are in Heaven, in the angels and in the saints illuminating them unto knowledge, for Thou, O Lord, are Light; inflaming them unto love, for Thou, O Lord, are Love; dwelling in them and filling them With blessedness, for Thou, O Lord, are the highest Good, the eternal Good from whom is all good and without whom is no good.

Hallowed be Thy Name: may Thy knowledge shine in us that we may know the breadth of Thy benefits, the length of Thy promises, the height of Thy majesty, and the depth of Thy judgments.

Thy Kingdom come, that Thou may reign in us by grace and may make us come to Thy Kingdom, where there is the clear vision of Thee, the perfect love of Thee, the blessed company of Thee, the eternal enjoyment of Thee. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, that we may love Thee with the whole heart by always thinking of Thee; with the whole soul by always desiring Thee; with the whole mind by directing all our intentions to Thee and seeking Thy honor in all things and with all our strength, by spending all the powers and senses of body and soul in the service of Thy love and not in anything else; and that we may love our neighbors even as ourselves, drawing to the best of our power all to Thy love; rejoicing in the good of others as in our own and compassionating [them] in troubles and giving offence to no one. […]”