Prayer
Secular Franciscans are people of deep and frequent prayer. We attend Holy Mass as often as possible, and pray in community and in private.
The brothers and sisters, as well as the fraternities, should adhere to the indications of the Ritual with respect to the different forms of participating in the liturgical prayer of the Church, giving priority to the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours.
— General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order, 14.4
The primary daily prayers for the Order are the Liturgy of the Hours and the Franciscan Crown Rosary. The Liturgy of the Hours (also referred to as the Divine Office) is also used by priests, deacons and consecrated religious. We generally pray morning prayer daily in private or with our families, and evening prayer in community each month and in private or with family each day.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
— Matthew 6:5-6
Common Franciscan Prayers
Prayer before the San Damiano Crucifix
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me true faith, certain hope
and perfect clarity,
sense and knowledge
that I may carry out Your
Holy and true command.
Blessing of Saint Francis
May the Lord bless you.
May the Lord keep you.
May He show His face to you
and have mercy.
May He turn to you His countenance
and give you peace.
The Lord bless you.
Peace Prayer (Prayer of St. Francis)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console.
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born toeternal life.
The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Son, who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather, through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You,
Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.
Franciscan Crown Rosary
The Franciscan Crown is a seven-decade rosary recalling the seven joys of Mary. Each decade consists of one Our Father and 10 Hail Marys.
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The scripture verses are not part of the rosary prayer; They are provided for context and scriptural support.
The Franciscan Crown Rosary begins with the first joy and the first decade, unlike the traditional rosary which starts on the crucifix.
The First Joy of Mary: The Annunciation
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Second Joy of Mary: The Visitation
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Luke 1:39-42)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Third Joy of Mary: The Nativity of our Lord
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Fourth Joy of Mary: The Adoration of the Magi
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Fifth Joy of Mary: The Boy Jesus in the Temple
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Sixth Joy of Mary: The Resurrection of our Lord
He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day. (Luke 24:6-7)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
The Seventh Joy of Mary: The Assumption
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1)
Our Father
Hail Mary 10x
Glory Be
Final Prayers
Hail Mary 2x for the 72 years Mary spent on Earth.
Hail Mary 1x, Our Father 1x, Glory Be 1x for the intentions of our Holy Father, the Pope.
