Franciscan saints & blesseds – Page 9

Saint Anthony of Padua

Loving God, upon this day
Sing we all in joyful praise:
Anthony, your faithful son,
On this day has heaven won.
He, the preacher of the Word,
Lived in deed the truth he heard;
Called by martyr’s death to be
Vowed to holy poverty.
Lord, accept the hymns we raise,
Singing Anthony’s holy praise!

Faithful friar, in Francis’ step
Bids us go where he has led,
Drawn by him, we offer laud
To Christ Jesus, Son of God.
Fearless teacher of the way,
Guiding us to work and pray,
Through his never-ceasing prayer
Leads us Christ-ward ev’rywhere.
Lord, accept the hymns we raise,
Singing Anthony’s holy praise!

To the Father and the Son
And the Spirit, Three-in-One,
Hymns of glory, songs of love
Sing we, echoing those above.
With the angels’ chorus high
Earth now makes this joyful cry;
With Saint Anthony we sing,
Praising God, our heav’nly King.
Lord, accept the hymns we raise,
Singing Anthony’s holy praise!

J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2010, World Library Publications
77 77 D; MENDELSSOHN, (or, without refrain, SALZBURG)

Blessed Florida Cevoli and Blessed Jolenta of Poland

Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, it is You who hold fast my lot. For me the measuring lines have fallen on pleasant sites; fair indeed is my inheritance.

God our Father, through contemplative prayer You ignited the flame of love deep in the heart and soul of blessed Florida; and taught blessed Jolenta to choose the lowly cross of Your Son in place of worldly honors and riches. Through their merits and prayers enable us to look rightly on perishable things and with sincere hearts to seek the things of heaven.

On Blessed Florida Cevoli

On Blessed Jolenta or here

Saint Felix Amoroso of Nicosia

Lord, my portion and my cup, You hold my lot secure; I keep the Lord before me always, for with him at my right hand nothing can shake or disturb me.

Lord, You taught Brother Felix of Nicosia to serve You in humility and simplicity, and to be attentive to the greater things. Grant that we may share in his glory in heaven.

Saint Camilla Baptista Varani

May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through it the world has been crucified to me and I to the world, alleluia.

Almighty God, You made the virgin Saint Camilla Baptista excel in meditating on the passion of Your Son Jesus Christ. Grant us through her intercession to bear in our hearts the mortification of the cross and thus merit to obtain eternal life.

Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes

Come, bride of Christ, and receive the crown, which the Lord has prepared for you for ever, alleluia.

Heavenly Father, through virginal chastity and penance You were pleased to have Saint Mary Ann grow like a lily amid the thorns of the world’s allurements. Through her intercession may we be kept from vice and strive after perfection.

Read something on Saint Mary Ann, the 17th century saint of Quito, Ecuador here.

Saint Bernardine of Siena

May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever, alleluia.

Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Bernardine the priest an extraordinary love for the holy name of Jesus. By his merits and prayers grant that the spirit of love for You may ever inflame us.

Read a bit on Bernardine here.

Saint Felix of Cantalice

With joy thanks to God the Father who made us worthy to share the lot of the saints in light, alleluia.

Almighty God, You gave Saint Felix to the Seraphic Family and to the Church as an example of evangelical simplicity and innocence of life. Following his example, may we strive to love and joyfully to follow Christ alone.

Saint Felix’s story, in brief, is here.

Saint Paschal Baylon

Lord God, You adorned Saint Paschal with wondrous love for the sacred mysteries of the body and blood of Your Son. Grant that we may derive the same spiritual riches from this divine banquet that he received.

This apostle of Eucharistic life in the Church has a brief biography here.

Saint Margaret of Cortona

Has God forgotten pity? Does he in his anger withold his compassion? This is my sorrow that the right hand of the Most High is changed, alleluia.

Heavenly Father, You take no pleasure in the death of the sinner but rather in the sinner’s conversion that he may live. As You mercifully drew Your servant Margaret from the path of damnation to the path of salvation, grant that we may serve You with pure hearts.

Read the story of this 13th century Third Order Franciscan penitent, Saint Margaret of Cortona, who sought to live in communion with Jesus, her Lord.

Saint Leopold Mandic of Herceg Novi

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to free the downtrodden, and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favor.

O God, perfect unity and highest good, You filled Saint Leopold, Your priest, with kindness and mercy for sinners, and an ardent desire for unity among all Christians; through his intercession, may we be renewed in spirit and heart and confidently work for the unity of all Christians in the bond of peace.

Read a brief biography of Saint Leopold Mandic