St. Francis Novena – Day 1

As you remember your intentions to the Lord, please pray for all those around the world who are also praying this novena.

Fr. Jim Bok, OFM

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him. If we want to save our lives, we must lose them. This call to an emptying of self, to be unselfish, is a never-ending struggle. St. Francis, you spent your life denying yourself, that you might love abundantly like Jesus. Help us to carry that cross, which strengthens us to love others as Jesus loves us. Help us to continue to fashion ourselves into the image and likeness of Jesus himself. As a reminder that I am to become unselfish, I am going to happily greet everyone I meet today with a word of kindness and a smile.

Fr. Jim Bok, OFM

(Fr. Jim Bok, OFM, is the pastor of Mary, Gate of Heaven Church in Negril, Jamaica.

Pray the Novena to St. Francis

Read by Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM

St. Francis is a powerful intercessor, you can post your prayer intentions to him on our Prayer page.

The Novena to St. Francis of Assisi

Day 1

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.)

St. Francis, as you left a comfortable life to lead a life of poverty and service to others, we ask you to pray that we also realize the folly of seeking to amass material wealth and gain power and control over others less fortunate than we are. Today I humbly give something that I don’t really need to the poor as an offering to God our Father, hoping this act signals a start of my conversion.

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.

Light a candle or give alms on our Donation Page.

Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, is a writer and poet. His most famous book is Francis, the Journey and the Dream, published by 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