honors you by exalted grace
above all,
and mercifully crowns you
while you, with every effort,
direct all your heart on Him.
Matins
Invitatory [Antiphon]
In the praise of Francis
May Jesus be magnified
by the privilege of wounds
of which he was considered worthy.
First Nocturn:
- The passion of Jesus
which was in the will of Francis,
is proved beyond doubt
by the truth of the wounds.
- Let no one now discourse
against the stigmata of Francis,
for these are gifts of Christ:
Rome has now declared this. - Jesus, the glory of Francis,
greatly exalted him,
with the holy insignia of the stigmata
which He granted to him.
Responsories:
- R/ Francis, angelic man,
strives to revere the angels
and in a heavenly way wishes
to afflict the flesh;
Now the noted servant of Christ
wishes to rejoice in Christ.
V/ To him the whole world was bitter
to him only Jesus was sweet,
and Him he strove to contemplate.