St Francis prays the ''Our Father''

St Francis Receiving the Stigmata

Today, I discovered a paraphrase of the Pater Noster composed by St Francis of Assisi.

It was contained in the Great Commentary of Cornelius A Lapide on the Lord's Prayer.

The exegete writes that it is partly literal, partly mystical and is so sublime, wise, and fervent, that it deserved to be quoted in full:





Fra Angelico 1440 [Public domain]
Pinacoteca Vaticana

''Our Father: O most holy Creator, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Comforter.

Which art in Heaven, in the angels, in the saints, illuminating them with the knowledge of Thyself, for Thou, O Lord, art Light, inflaming them with Thy Divine love; for Thou, Lord, art love, dwelling in them and filling them with blessing; for Thou, O Lord, art the chief and everlasting good, from whom are all, and without whom is no good.

Hallowed be Thy name: that we may have a clear knowledge of Thee, that we may know the breadth of Thy kindness, the length of Thy promises, the height of Thy majesty, and the depth of Thy judgments.

Thy kingdom come: that Thou mayest reign in us by Thy grace, and make us to come to Thy kingdom, where there is the open vision of Thee, and where Thy love is perfected, and where Thy company and the fruition of Thee are everlasting: that we may love Thee with all our heart, by ever meditating upon Thee, by always desiring Thee with all our soul, by directing all our intentions to Thee, and by seeking Thy honour in all things, and by obediently corresponding to Thy love with all our strength, and with all the faculties of our souls and bodies, and by loving our neighbours as ourselves, by drawing all men unto Thy love with all our might, by rejoicing in others’ prosperity as though it were our own, and suffering with them in adversity, and by giving no offence to any one.

Give us this day our daily bread: give us this day Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in memory, in understanding, in reverence for the love which He had towards us, and of the things which He has done, spoken, and suffered for us.

And forgive us our debts, through Thy mercy, and the unspeakable virtue of the Passion of Thy well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the merits and the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the elect.

As we forgive them that trespass against us: and because we do not fully forgive, do Thou, O Lord, cause us perfectly to forgive, that we may love our enemies as ourselves, and devoutly intercede for them, that we may render evil for evil unto no man, but strive to be profitable unto all in Thee.

And lead us not into temptation: either secret or open, sudden or habitual. But deliver us from evil: past, present, and to come. Amen, freely and spontaneously.'' 

Thus was St Francis accustomed to pray the Our Father, at all the hours.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam