Celebrating Evening Prayer With ST.FRANCIS – MAN OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

1. INVITATION TO PRAY (Stand) Leader O God come to our aid Al O Lord make haste to help us Glory be… Leader Above all else, St.Francis was a disciple of Jesus Christ. “No human tongue”, wrote St.Bonaventure, “could describe the passionate love with which Francis burned for Christ, his spouse” (M.L.ix. 1- 2). This devotion led him to the Holy Eucharist, which he saw as a unique meeting place with him, where he came as near as it is possible, to see and touch Him. Following Francis’ example, we offer this evening sacrifice of praise, adoring the Lord Jesus present in mystery, in his holy Body and Blood. 2. Hymn (where possible, entrance procession, exposition of the Sacrament, and incensation) All Sing Hail our Saviour’s glorious Body, Which his Virgin Mother bore; Hail the Blood which, shed for sinners, Did a broken world restore; Hail the sacrament most holy, Flesh and Blood of Christ adore. To the Virgin, for man’s healing, His own Son the Father sends; From the Father’s love proceeding Sower, seed and Word descends; Wondrous life of Word incarnate With his greatest wonder ends! On the paschal evening see him With the chosen twelve recline, To the old law still obedient In its feast of love divine; Love divine, the new law giving, Gives himself as Bread and wine! By his word the Word almighty Makes of bread his flesh indeed; Wine becomes his very life – blood: Faith God’s living Word must heed! Faith alone may safely guide us Where the senses cannot lead! Come adore this wondrous presence; Bow to Christ, the source of grace! Here is kept the ancient promise Of God’s earthly dwelling place! Sight is blind before God’s glory, Faith alone may see his face! Glory be to God the Father, Praise to his co – equal Son, Adoration to the Spirit, Bond of love in Godhead one! Blest be God by all creation Joyously while ages run! 3. PSALMODY Antiphoner 1 “It was the Father’s will that his blessed and glorious Son… should offer himself by his own blood as a sacrifice and victim on the altar of the cross” (St.Francis: Letters) Alternate The Lord’s oracle to you, my Lord, Sit at my right hand and I will make your enemies a footstool for you. The Lord will force all your enemies under the sway of your sceptre in Zion. Royal dignity was yours from the day you were born, on the holy mountains, royal from the womb, from the dawn of your earliest days. The Lord has sworn an oath which he never will retract, You are a priest of the order of malchizedek, and forever. The Lord is at your right hand. When he grows angry he shatters kings, he gives the nations their deserts, smashing their skulls, he heaps the wide world with corpses Drinking from the stream as he goes, he can hold his head high in victory. Glory be… As it was in the beginning… (Silent prayer) PSALM PRAYER Jesus, gloriously risen Lord. I adore you. Help me to love you more and more, and by worshipping you in the holy mystery of your Body and Blood, share in your victory over evil. Antiphoner 1 “It was the Father’s will that his blessed and glorious Son… should offer himself by his own blood as a sacrifice and victim on the altar of the cross” Anitphoner 2 “In this world there can be nothing of the Most High Himself that we can possess and contemplate with our own eyes, except his Body and Blood, his Name and Words”. (St.Francis: Letters) Alternate Alleluia! verse I love! For the Lord listen to my entreaty; He bends down to listen to me when I call. The Lord is righteous and merciful, our God is tender hearted; The Lord defends the simple, he saved me when I was brought to my knees. I will walk in the Lord’s presence in the land of the living. I have faith, even when I say, ‘I am completely crushed’. In my alarm I declared, ‘No man can be relied on”. What return can I make to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will offer libations to my saviour, invoking the name of the Lord. I will pay what I vowed to the Lord: may his whole nation be present! The death of the devout coasts the Lord dear, Lord, I am your servant your servant, son of a pious mother. you undo my fetters. I will offer you the thanksgiving sacrifice, invoking the name of the Lord. I will walk in the Lord’s presence in the land of the living. I will pay what I vowed to the Lord, may his whole nation be present, In the courts of the house of the Lord, in your heart, Jerusalem. Glory be… As it was in the beginning… (silent prayer) PSALM PRAYER Lord, in the Eucharist we are able to offer you a ‘perfect and living sacrifice’, an oblation that is worthy of your holiness. May our whole lives be directed to this summit of all human activity. Antiphoner 2 “In this world there can be nothing of the Most High Himself that we can possess and contemplate with our own eyes, except his Body and Blood, his name and Words”. Antiphoner 1 “What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the whole universe… should humble himself like this and hide under the form of a little bread for our salvation” Alternate His state was divine, verses yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humble yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high And gave him a name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Glory be… As it was in the beginning… (silent prayer) PSALM PRAYER Lord, may your holy Body and Blood be for us a source of strength, that we may follow your example of humility, mercy and love. Antiphoner 1 “What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the whole universe… should humble himself like this and hide under the form of a little bread for our salvation” 4.THE WORD OF GOD Reader 1 St.Francis appreciated the intimate connection between the Word of God in the Scriptures, and his presence in the Holy sacrament. He treated both with the utmost reverence and respect. A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS (9:1-6) Wisdom has built herself a house, she has erected her seven pillars, she has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine, she has laid her table. she has dispatched her maidservants and proclaimed from the city’s heights: ‘Who is ignorant? Let him step this way’. To the fool she says, ‘Come and eat my bread’ drink the wine I have prepared! Leave your folly and you will live, walk in the ways of perception’. This is the Word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God. THE TEACHING Reader 2 FROM THE ADMONITIONS OF ST.FRANCIS No.1 “Every day Jesus humble himself just as he did when he came from his heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb: everyday he comes to us and let us see him in abjection, when he descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar. He shows himself to us in this sacred bread just as he once appeared to his apostles in real flesh. With their own eyes they saw only his flesh, but they believed that he was God, because the contemplated him with the eyes of the Spirit. We too with our own eyes, see only bread and wine: but we must see further and firmly believe that his is the most holy Body and Blood, living and true” Here ends the reading All Thanks be to God 5. THE SONG OF MARY (Stand) Antiphoner 1 “Our Lord Jesus Christ is the glorious Word of the Father, whose coming the Father made known by Gabriel the Archangel to the glorious and blessed Virgin Mary” (St.Francis:Letters) Alternate And Mary said: verses My soul proclaim the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon hid lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations Will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, He has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy. according to the promise he made to our ancestor of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Glory be… As it was in the beginning… Antiphoner 1 “Our Lord Jesus Christ is the glorious Word of the Father, whose coming the Father made known by Gabriel the Archangel to the glorious and blessed Virgin Mary”. 6. THE PRAYERS THE DIVINE PRAISES OF ST.FRANCIS (Kneel) Leader Some times after the awe – inspiring events on La Verna Francis said to Br.Leo: “Bring me some parchment and ink for I want to write down the words of the Lord, and his praises which I have meditated upon in my heart” This is what Francis wrote: You are holy Lord, the only God, and your deeds are wonderful All You are stromg, You are great, You are most high, You are almighty. You, holy Father, are King of heaven and earth. Leader You are three and one, Lord God, all good. You are good, all good, supreme good. Lord God, living and true. All You are love, You are wisdom, You are humility, You are endurance. You are rest, You are peace. You are joy and gladness. You are justice and moderation… You are all our riches, And you suffice for us. Leader You are beauty. You are gentleness You are our protector, You are our guardian and defender. You are our courage. You are our heaven and our hope. All You are our faith, You are our great consolation. You are our eternal life, You are wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful saviour. HYMN OF ADORATION (during which there is an incensation) All Sing Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, see Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art. Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived; how says trusty hearing? That shall be believed: what God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do; Truth himself speaks truly or there’s nothing true. Jesus, whom I look at shrouded here below, I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so, some day to (2) gaze on (2) thee, face to face in light and be blest forever with the glory’s sight. (Tune: Adoro Te (2) 11 11.11 11) THE PRAYER (and the benediction, if possible) Leader Lord Jesus Christ, you gave your Church an admirable Sacrament as the abiding memorial of your passion. Teach us so to worship the sacred mystery of your Body and Blood, that its redeeming power will sanctify us always. Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. All Amen THE BENEDICTION (and Reposition) 7. RECESSIONAL HYMN All Sing Abide with me; fast falls the eventide: the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide: when other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see: O thou who changest not, abide with me. I need thy presence every passing hour; what but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? who like thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide With me. I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me. Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. (Tune: Eventide 10 10.10 10)