Tansitus of Our Seraphic Father, Saint Francis of Assisi (We will light each of the five a candles as we recall the stigmata on each part of Francis body.) Celebrant: We come together this evening to recall that night when Francis passed through from death to life. To enter into the spirit of that a night, let us pray silently in our hearts, thanking the Lord for so great a Father as Francis and humbly begging him to make us more worthy children of this poor little man who gave himself totally to the Father through Jesus. Light first Candle First Reading: from St. Bonaventure s Minor Life: He could no longer walk because of the nails protruding from his feet, and so he had himself carried, half dead as he was, about the towns and villages. Like the second angel coming up from the east of whom St. John speaks in the Apocalype, he enkindled the hearts of God s servants with a divine fire, set their feet on the way of peace, and marking their brow with the seal of the living God. He longed with all his heart to return to the humble beginning he had made at first, and the nurse the lepers once more, as he and done before, making his body which was already worn out with toil, serve him once again, as it had served him before. All: Kindly Father, alas, your children are now without a father and are deprived of the true light of their eyes. Remember therefore your orphans whom you are now leaving; forgive them all their faults and give joy to those present and absent, your blessing. Pause: Light second candle
Celebrant: St. Francis said: Behold my children, I am called by God: I forgive my brothers and sisters, both present and absent, all their offenses and faults and it as far as I am able, I absolve them. I want you to announce this to them on my behalf. Second Reading from The Little Flowers of Saint Francis Francis called Lady Jacoba, Brother Jocaba and would visit her when he was in Rome. One time, while visiting her, Francis gave her a lamb. Each year she would shear the lamb and weave the wool into a long piece of cloth. She also made almond cakes which Francis was very fond of. Lady Jacoba said to the friars upon her arrival at Francis hut, I was about to begin my prayer and in spirit I heard a voice say to me: Go and visit your father, Francis. But hurry; do not lose a moment, for if you delay, you will not find him alive. Then the voice said, bring your cloth, your special cookies, and a large quantity of wax for light and some incense also. With the material she brought, the brothers made a tunic which Francis would wear only if it were on loan to him and if they then sowed a sackcloth over it. Francis was so ill that he could only have a taste of the almond cookie which he loved so much. And it so happened by the will of God, that blessed Francis went to the Lord during the week Lady Jacoba had come. All: Francis then said, I take my leave of you all my sons, in the fear of the Lord. Remain in that fear always. There will be temptations and trials in the future. Those who persevere in their commitment will be happy. I am on my way to God and I commend you to his grace. Pause Light third Candle Third Reading from The Mirror of Perfection Brother Elias was scandalized when he learned how St. Francis was preparing for Sister Death. He said to his brothers, How can this man show
so much joy when he is about to die? He ought to be preparing himself for death. When Elias came to see Francis, Francis said, Brother, allow me in my infirmities to rejoice in the Lord and in His praises, for by his grace and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, I am so united and conjoined to my Lord that by His mercy I may rightly rejoice in Him, the Most High. After his last visit from the doctor, the blessed Francis, lying on his bed, most reverently and devotedly stretched out his hands to God, and with great joy of mind and body, said, Welcome, Sister Death. All: As his death approached Francis was filled with great joy. He called for Brother Leo and asked him to write the final verse of The Canticle of the Sun. Francis prayed; Praise be Yours, my Lord, for Sister Bodily Death, from whom no man living may escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin, and blessed are those who are found in Your holy will, for the second death can do them no ill Pause Light fourth Candle Fourth Reading from the Gospel of John 19: 16-19 Now Francis, this man so near to God, asked that St. John s Gospel be read from beginning to end. When Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then he handed him over to be crucified. So they took Jesus and carrying his cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.
The Little Flowers of St Francis) All: We are called to make, as our own, the qualities needed to be a Franciscan. We ask the Holy Sprit to fill us with the grace of faithfulness to the Church and its teachings, reverence for all living things, to be devout in our faith as we live in the world, to be filled with compassion, patience, and consideration towards all. To be obedient to our faith and to our role in the family and the world. And finally to feel beloved of God as we reflect his gifts to others. Pause Light the fifth candle Fifth Reading from The Little Flowers of St. Francis As his death drew near, he began to have a high fever. And because he suffered from a cough and pains in the head and chest, he could not eat or sleep or rest. Day and night the friars carried him on his bed so that he might find rest. Francis would ask Brothers Leo and Angelo to sing the final stanza of the Canticle of the Sun many times as he said, to comfort him and the guards in front of the palace. And with his eyes and mouth closed, without further delay, his very soul was caught up in a rapture to its home in Paradise above. Celebrant: Let us pray the Prayer To Celebrate the Transitus of our Seraphic Father Saint Francis : Antiphon: O most holy soul, whom the inhabitants of heaven rush to salute your passage, the choirs of angels receive with joy and the glorious Trinity welcomes, saying, Abide with us throughout eternity.
Side 1: I cry to the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. Side 2: In his sight I pour out my prayer and before him I declare my trouble. Side 1: When my spirit failed me, then you knew my paths. Side 2: They lay snares to catch me. Side 1: I look on my right and left and there was no one there who knew me. Side 2: Flight has failed me and there is no one that has regard for my soul. Side 1: I cry to you, O Lord; I said: You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living. Side 2: Attend to my supplication for I am brought very low. Side 1: Deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger than I. Side 2: Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise your name. The just wait for me until you reward me. All: Glory be to the Father, The Son and the Spirit.
Side 1: O most holy soul, whom the inhabitants of heaven rush to salute your passage, the choirs of angels received with joy and the glorious Trinity welcomes, saying, Abide with us throughout eternity. Side 2: Hail, holy Father, glory of the country, model of the Friars Minor, mirror of virtue, way of rectitude, rule of conduct: from this exile lead us to the Kingdom on high. All: Francis, poor and humble, rich in merits, enters into Heaven. Celebrant: O God, Who on this day did confer happiness upon the soul of our Father Saint Francis, merciful grant they who with pious affection celebrate the commemoration of his death, may happily attain the joys of the same blessed eternity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Celebrant: O Lord hear our prayer. All: And let our cry come unto you. Celebrant: Let us bless the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen By Margaret-Anne Ashfield