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Lord Jesus Christ,  who  when  the  world  was  growing cold, in  order  that  the  hearts  of  men  might  burn  anew with the  fire  of  Thy  love,  didst  in  the  flesh  of  the  most blessed Francis  reproduce  the  stigmata  of  Thy  passion: be mindful  of  his  merits  and  prayers;  and  in  Thy  mercy vouchsafe to  us  the  grace  ever  to  carry  Thy  cross,  and  to bring  forth  worthy  fruits  of  penance.

aint Francis  of  Assisi,  Founder  of  the  great  Order  of Friars  Minor,  was  renowned  for  the  strict  practice of evangelical  poverty,  which  he,  both  by  example  and  by precept,  inculcated  on  his  followers. Pope Innocent  III, having seen  in  a  vision  the  humble  Francis  supporting the tottering  walls  of  the  Lateran  Basilica,  the  Cathedral of Rome,  fostered  to  the  utmost  the  new  Institute. Miraculously marked with  the  sacred  stigmata  (Sept.  17), Saint Francis  passed  away  at  Assisi,  his  birthplace,  Oct.  4, 1226, being  then  in  the  45th  year  of  his  age.

God, who,  through  the  merits  of  blessed  Francis, dost magnify  thy  church,  enriching  it  anew  with spiritual offspring:  make  us,  like  him,  to  disdain  the  goods of earth,  nor  at  any  time  to  lack  the  comforting  gifts of heaven.

I. Glorious  St.   Francis,  who    didst  voluntarily renounce all  the  comforts  and  riches  of  thy  home to follow  more  perfectly  the  life  of  poverty  and  abnegation of Jesus  Christ:  obtain  for  us,  we  pray,  a  generous  con-