Novena for the Feast of OHFSF Invocation: Almighty God, we praise your holy name and give you

thanks for giving to the people of God in St. Francis of Assisi a wonderful example of a Gospel-like life, of a life directed to the imitation of your Son. You called him to reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty, humility and love. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, so to become like him messengers of peace and love to the world.

First Day

Blessed St. Francis, you have been proclaimed by the Church as the saint who more than any other expressed in a faithful and striking manner the image of Christ our Lord and the ideal of gospel life. Thus you have been called the Herald of the Great King and Second Christ. Lead us to model our life in Christs teaching and to adopt His mentality and attitudes towards God, our fellowmen and all the things of the earth. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Second Day

Blessed St. Francis, you accepted joyfully the call of the Crucified Lord to restore the Church of God. With your preaching and the example of your life you called the people off God to relive Jesus teaching and life. Give us the courage to reject in our personal and community life what is contrary to the Gospel, that we may become true followers of Christ and His living witness. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Third Day

Blessed St. Francis, the Holy Spirit found in you a fit instrument to restore all in Christ, to build the Body of Christ, which is the Church. You teach us that we too, even without being bishops or priests, can effectively cooperate to the welfare of the Church of God, especially following your example of complete adherence to the teaching of the Church, obedience and reverence for the pastors commissioned by Christ to govern Gods flock, to be like you thoroughly Catholic with the spirit of the Apostles. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Fourth Day

Blessed St. Francis, from the time you heard the voice of the Crucified Lord calling you to restore Gods Church, you wanted nothing more than to become like Christ, to imitate Him as perfectly as you could, to become one with Him. May we follow in your footsteps. Like you, may Christ be in our thoughts, in our heart and Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Fifth Day

Blessed St. Francis, you put as first condition for the imitation of Christ evangelical poverty, total freedom from all attachment to material things. Help us to free ourselves from all excessive anxiety for material goods, and direct us to use them wisely, always ready to share them with our brothers and sisters. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sixth Day

Blessed St. Francis, your desire to conform yourself in the Divine Model led you not only to embrace poverty even in the simple use of things, but also to complete renunciation of self in the deepest humility. May we follow your example, rely not in ourselves, but in the grace and favor of God, revealed in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Seventh Day

Blessed St. Francis, the Lord Himself revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that no man ever loved Him as you. Everything in creation called you to praise the All Good, the Supreme Good, the source of all that is beautiful and good. Lead us to discover Gods love for us in all creation and, above all, in the mystery of Christs life and death, and in His presence among us in the Holy Eucharist. Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Eighth Day

Blessed St. Francis, seeing in all men Christs image, you put yourself joyfully to their service, with the same reverence and respect as if done to the Lord Himself. Teach us to be gentle and compassionate towards all we encounter, especially to the sick and the poor, and where we cannot offer in material assistance, let us make up with love and sympathy. May we become like you, bearers of peace and understanding to all men.

Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Ninth Day

Blessed St. Francis, your love embraced all the universe, human beings and inanimate things. They all came from the creative hand of the Creator, are symbols and bearers of Christ, the first-born of every creature. Lead us to understand the nobility of all creation that God, the Father of all, has entrusted to man to be developed and brought to perfection.

Leader: Pray for us St. Francis. All: Let us pray: Father, you helped St. Francis reflect the image of Christ through a life of poverty and humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.