The Sacred Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

Feast day is celebrated on 17 September. From the beginning of his conversion our Seraphic Father Saint Francis had a very great devotion and veneration for Christ crucified and never ceased to preach this devotion till his death. Two years before his death in 1224, he embarked on a journey to Mt. Alverna for a forty day fast and one morning near the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, a six winged angel allegedly appeared to Francis while he prayed. As the angel approached, Francis could see that the angel was crucified. He was humbled by the sight, and his heart was filled with elation joined by pain and suffering. When the angel departed, Francis was purportedly left with wounds of his Christ passion on the Francis hands, feet, and side as if caused by the same lance that pierced Christ's side and these wounds often seeped blood Pope Benedict XI permitted the Franciscan Order to celebrate annually on this day the memory of this extraordinary event attested by reliable witnesses.

Prayer

Standard-bearer of Christ and of his Church, we would fain, with the Apostle and with thee, glory in nothing save the Cross of Our Lord Jesus. We would fain bear in our souls the sacred Stigmata, which adorned thy holy body. To him whose whole ambition is to return love for love, every suffering is a gain, persecution has no terrors; for the effect of persecutions and sufferings is to assimilate him, together with his mother the Church, to Christ persecuted, scourged and crucified. It is with our whole hearts that we pray, with the Church: "O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, when the world was growing cold, didst renew the sacred marks of thy Passion in the flesh of the most blessed Francis, to inflame our hearts with the fire of thy love; mercifully grant, that by his merits and prayers we may always carry the cross, and bring forth worthy fruits of penance. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen."

Tuesday, 17 September, 2013 

The Sacred Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

First Reading

Galatians 6: 14 - 18
14	But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15	For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16	Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.
17	Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Psalm

Galatians 2: 16, 20
16	yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.
20	I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel 

Luke 9: 23 - 26
23	And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24	For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.
25	For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26	For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.