Introduction

In order to live out his vocation to preach the Gospel to the whole world, Saint Francis of Assisi spent a great deal of time in silent and solitary prayer. He often retreated alone to hidden places deep in the woods and high up in the mountains in order to grow closer to the Poor Christ. We know very little about the saint’s experiences during these private moments of prayer. And tradition teaches us that Saint Francis left only one instruction about how to pray: a meditation on the Lord’s Prayer. As we strive to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church, we join with Saint Francis to pray as Jesus taught us: in praise, petition, and thanksgiving for the Father’s blessings of love, mercy, friendship, and all that is good in our world.

A Meditation on the Lord’s Prayer
By Saint Francis of Assisi

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Father
Most Holy: Our Creator, Consoler, Redeemer, and Savior.

Who art in heaven
In the angels and in the saints, enlightening them to know that you, O Lord, are light, inflaming them to charity; that you, O Lord, are love, dwelling in them and filling them with happiness; that you, O Lord, are the Supreme Good, the Eternal Good, from whom all goodness comes and without whom there is no good.

Hallowed be thy Name
May our knowledge of you become more clear, so that we may know the breadth of your blessings, the length of your promises, the height of your majesty, and the depth of your holy judgments.

Thy Kingdom Come
So that you may rule us by your grace and enable us to come into your kingdom, where there is a clear vision of you, a perfect love for you, a blessed companionship with you, and eternal joy and life with you in heaven.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
So that we may love you with our whole heart by always thinking about you; with our whole soul by always desiring only you; with our whole mind by always directing all of our intentions to you; and by seeking your glory in everything, with all of our strength and by exerting all of our energies and affections, in both body and soul, in service of your love and nothing else. And may we love our neighbors as ourselves by drawing them to your love with our whole strength by rejoicing in the good of others, by suffering with them, and by giving offense to no one.

Give us this day 
In reverence, remembrance, and understanding of the love that our Lord Jesus Christ had for us, and of those things that he said, those things that he did, and those things that he suffered for our sake.

Our daily bread
Your own Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgive us our trespasses
Through your indescribable mercy, through the power of the Passion of your Beloved Son, and through the merits and intercessions of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary and all of your angels and saints in heaven.

As we forgive those who trespass against us
What we do not completely forgive, help us to truly love our enemies because of you; inspire us to truly pray for them before you; returning no one evil for evil; and may we strive always to help everyone in your name.

And lead us not into temptation
Hidden or obvious, sudden or persistent.

But deliver us from evil
Past, present, and yet to come. Amen.

Encouraged and enlightened by the guidance of Saint Francis of Assisi, we pray now for our Holy Father, for the Church around the world, for our pastors and fellow parishioners, for all who need our prayers, and for all who ask for our prayers:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us, sinners, now
and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Prayer for the Intercession 
of Saint Francis & Saint Clare of Assisi

All Good and Gracious God,
we entrust into your loving hands
our prayers and petitions
for the sick and suffering among us.

We unite our humble prayers
with the prayers of the Poor Christ,
our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother.
Hear us! Console us!
Lead us forth in faith, hope, and love!

May the powerful intercession
of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi
bring us closer to Christ,
closer to the Church,
and closer to each other.

May their prayers comfort us,
empower us, and protect us
as we strive to live the Gospel,
share God’s love and mercy,
and rebuild the Church. Amen.

Glory to the Father,
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!

About the Presenter

Cliff Garvey is a co-founder of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary College, and the Catholic University of America. Cliff is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as Associate Minister of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts where his ministry focuses on adult faith formation. Thank you for listening to Saint Francis at Prayer. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. For more information about the Assisi Project: A Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit and our programs and ministries for adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@assisiproject.com. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

Art Credit: Photo 19680374 | Renate Hartland | Dreamstime.com

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About Us

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. All are welcome to support our ministry via PayPal (see link below); or by sending a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. For more information about the Assisi Project, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@assisiproject.com. May the Lord give you peace!

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In Memory of Mary J. Foley, RN, PhD