Catholic meme

Firstly, I would like to thank puzzled for having tagged me to receive a Catholic meme. I'll post my three favorite prayers here.

1) St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer before the crucifix at San Damiano

Most High, glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart,

and give me right faith,

Certain hope, and perfect charity,

Wisdom and understanding,

Lord, that I may carry out

your holy and true command. Amen.

Saint Francis is, to me, one of the greatest Christians who has ever lived. He is loved by all Christians and is even respected by some Muslims. His devotion to God was so complete. He understood the Gospel message, and through his order, tried to live out Christ's words as closely as possible. I love this prayer because it is short and to the point.  Instead of telling Jesus what I want to do each day, I must listen to what He has planned for me to accomplish.

2) The Canticle of Brother Sun

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, 

and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised my Lord, through all your creatures,

especially through my lord Brother Sun,

who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!

Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praise 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 which

You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,

which 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 Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains us and governs us and who

produces varied fruits 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, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,

through Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no living man 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. Amen.

This prayer is so powerful. It is incredible that St. Francis wrote this prayer while he was suffering and near death. There are so many picture books centered on this prayer, and yet people often forget that Francis' appreciation of nature and life was the fruit of his strong devotion to God. I pray this prayer almost every morning.

3)  St. Francis Meditates on the Our Father

"Our Father," Holiest One, our Creator Redeemer, Comforter...

"Who art in heaven," in the angels and saints enlightening them to knowledge, for you, O Lord, are light; inflaming them to love, for you, O Lord, are love; dwelling in them and filling them with blessedness, for you, O Lord, are the highest good, the eternal good from whom is all good and without whom there is no good...

"Hallowed be thy name." May your knowledge shine in us that we may know the breadth of your benefits, the length of your promises, the height of your majesty, and the depth of your judgments...

"Thy kingdom come," that you may reign in us by grace and make us come to your kingdom, where there is clear vision of you, and perfect love of you, and the company and enjoyment of you...

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," that we may love you with our whole heart by always thinking of you; with our whole soul by always desiring you; with our whole mind by directing all our intentions to you and seeking you honor in all things; with all our strength by spending all the powers and senses of body and soul in the service of your love and not in anything else; and that we may love our neighbor even as ourselves, drawing everything, to the best of our power, to your love; rejoicing in the good of others as in our own, and being compassionate in their troubles, and giving offense to no one...

"Give us this day" --through remembering and understanding and reverencing the love which he had for us and for what he said, did, and suffered for us-- "our daily bread," your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...

"And forgive us our trespasses," by your ineffable mercy in virtue of the passion of your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the merits and intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and of all your elect...

"As we forgive those who trespass against us," and what we do not fully forgive, do you, O Lord, make us fully forgive, so that for your sake we may truly love our enemies and devoutly intercede for them with you, thereby rendering no evil for evil, but striving in you to do good to all...

"And lead us not into temptation," hidden or visible, sudden or continuous. "But deliver us from evil," past, present, and to come. Amen.

Is a comment really necessary?