St. Francis Novena, Day Seven

As you remember your personal intentions, please pray for the poor, forgotten, desperate, and lonely around the world and in our neighborhoods.

Br. Michael Charron, OFM

I regularly listen to a popular podcast about relationships and mental health. Many times, the host tells people to have a group of friends around them who are “ride or die,” meaning that you can call them at 2 a.m. with a problem and they know many of your feelings and thoughts—essentially, they are folks who have permission to, as an old friend of mine described it, “read your mail.”

These relationships are appropriately, and unfortunately, few. (“Appropriately” because you don’t share yourself in such a raw way with just anyone, and “unfortunately” because many people lack relationships like this.) The reality is that many folks are lonely, and loneliness hurts! Big time! An old Jewish proverb says, “Loneliness breaks the spirit.”

As you’re praying this particular part of the novena today, consider inviting someone you don’t know, or know little about, to get coffee, a beer, or a big plate of chips and queso (my preference) with the intention of listening to them and finding out more about them. Most folks I’ve met enjoy talking about themselves and will welcome a listening ear.

Br. Michael

Br. Michael Charron, OFM, JD, serves as a Case Manager for Judge Amy L. Searcy in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Pray the Novena to St. Francis of Assisi

Read by Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM

St. Francis visited Pope Innocent III seeking approval for his Rule and the way of life for his followers. At first the pope was reluctant but in a supernatural dream, where the St. John Lateran Basilica was falling down in ruin, St. Francis held the building up. At last, Pope Innocent III wholeheartedly approved of the Franciscans.  Post your prayer intentions to him on our Prayer page.

The Novena to St. Francis of Assisi

Day Seven

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Poor and humble St. Francis, through your kind intercession we seek to love God above all things. We seek the faith, hope, and love that moved you to joyfully renounce honors and riches and to radically follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for us that we come to see the privilege of suffering with and for the poor after the example of Jesus. Help us to be always grateful for all the blessings we have received and give us the strength to overcome our most pressing concerns.

(Include your personal intentions now.)

Humble and loving St. Francis, you were untiring in your service to the poor. Obtain for us the same heart for mercy and the desire to give of ourselves in the hope that we may one day be blessed with the promises of Christ

St. Francis, help us to continue praying for the grace to truly repent and change our hearts by actively seeking reconciliation with God and all those we have offended or hurt in any way. May the blessings we receive through your intercession deepen our faith and inspire us to store up treasures in heaven, where we hope to spend eternity with our loving God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

Post your prayer requests on our Prayer Page.

Give alms on our Donation Page. Light a candle or offer a Mass here.

Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, is a writer and poet. He explains the close relationship between St. Francis and Jesus in, Francis and Jesus, available at Franciscan Media.

Videos and articles on St. Francis at Franciscan Media.

We follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis, learn more at Franciscan.org