Prayer Before the Christ of San Damiano

Before the figure of the Christ of San Damiano, which spoke to Francis, let us pray:

Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our heart
so that, like Francis and Clare, we may contemplate the beauty of your face,
and our hearts may remain fully taken up with it.

Give us true faith, certain hope and perfect charity
so that, enlightened by Your Word,
and united by the bonds of charity,
we may be a light to all who ardently desire to contemplate Your face.

Give us profound humility,
so that we may feel the urgency of being converted, of being born anew,
and being, like Francis and Clare, signs of salvation and hope
to all who yearn to see the light.

Lord Jesus:
increase in us the joy and happiness of following You.
may our only sadness consist of not following You
as Francis and Clare did,
of not loving You in the way those two became enamoured of You,
of those two conquered by Your love and mercy.

Lord Jesus:
make our hearts burn through listening to Your Word,
convert us to You,
and grant us the grace to leave all and to follow You.
Fiat, Fiat. Amen, Amen.

Source: Br. José Rodríguez Carballo, ofm, Minister General

TO THE SISTER PRESIDENTS OSC
Proto-monastery 27/01/08

http://www.ofm.org/events/chiara.php