Mass of Saint Francis of Assisi

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
MR
Francis, a man of God, left his home and gave away his wealth to become poor and in need. But the Lord cared for him.
GR
It is for us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
in whom is our health, life, and resurrection;
through whom we have been saved and set free (cf., Gal 6:14).
V. With all my voice I cry to the Lord,
with all my voice I entreat the Lord (Ps 141:1).
COLLECT
O God, who bestowed upon Saint Francis
the grace of being configured to Christ
in poverty and humility,
grant that by walking in the same path,
we may follow your Son,
and be joined to you in the joy of charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

COLLECT AT THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Almighty and ever-living God,
who, when the world was growing cold,
reproduced in the flesh of the blessed Francis,
the sacred marks of the Passion of your Son,
to inflame our hearts with the fire of your love;
by his intercession, graciously enable us
to cling to the Cross, the Tree of Life,
to taste of its fruits,
and to radiate its mystery.
Through Christ our Lord.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
That the Church in East and West,
may radiate the mystery of Crucified Love
by which joy has come into the world,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That dialogue between Christians and Muslims may find a model
in the simplicity, courtesy, and eloquence of Saint Francis,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That the leaders of nations
may be inspired by the Little Poor Man of Assisi and, by his prayers,
discover the language of reconciliation, and the road to peace,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That those who suffer infirmities of the body,
darknesses of the mind, or tribulations of the spirit,
may, like Saint Francis, lift their eyes to the Crucified Jesus
and, in his wounds, find healing and light,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That the children of Saint Francis
—friars, Poor Clare nuns, and layfolk—
may count the wisdom of this world as foolishness,
and ever seek the perfect joy of the Cross,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That we may be preserved from coldness of heart
and inflamed with the love of the Crucified
that burned in the heart of Saint Francis,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
GR
My truth and my mercy shall be with him:
and in my name shall his horn be exalted (Ps 88:25).
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Lord, as we offer you our gifts,
we pray that we may be rightly prepared
to celebrate the mystery of the Cross
to which Saint Francis held fast with such burning love.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
You exalted your servant Francis
through sublime poverty and humility
to the heights of evangelical perfection.
You inflamed him with seraphic love
to exult with unspeakable joy
over the works of your creation.
You branded him with the sacred stigmata,
and so gave us the image of the crucified Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Him the choirs of angels and all the powers of heaven
praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs
as we join in their unending hymn of praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
MR
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs (Mt 5:3).
Or:
GR
He was a faithful and wise servant,
the one whom the Lord set over his family
to give them their measure of wheat in due time (Lk 12:42).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Grant, we beseech you, O Lord,
through these holy things which we have received,
that by imitating the apostolic charity and zeal of Saint Francis
we may experience the effect of your love,
and pour ourselves out for all.
Through Christ our Lord.
SOLEMN BLESSING
May God bless you and keep you.
R. Amen.
May God smile on you, and be merciful to you.
R. Amen.
May God turn his face toward you,
and give you peace.
R. Amen.
And may the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
descend upon you, and remain with you forever.
R. Amen.