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 tempt of  all  things  in  this  world,  that  we  may  secure  the  true and eternal  things  of  heaven.

2. O  glorious  St.  Francis,  who  during  the  whole  course of thy  life  didst  continually  weep  over  the  Passion  of  the Redeemer, and  labor  most  zealously  for  the  salvation  of souls:  obtain  for  us,  we  pray,  the  grace  of  weeping  continually over  those  sins  by  which  we  have  crucified  afresh Our Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  may  attain  to  be  of  the number of  those  who  shall  eternally  bless  His  supreme mercy.

3. O  glorious  St.  Francis,  who,  loving  above  all  things suffering and  the  cross,  didst  merit  to  bear  in  thy  body  the miraculous stigmata,  by  which  thou  didst  become  a  living image of  Jesus  Christ  crucified:  obtain  for  us,  we  pray, the grace  to  bear  in  our  bodies  the  mortifications  of  Christ, that we  may  merit  one  day  to  receive  the  consolations  which are infallibly  promised  to  all  those  who  now  weep.

"If we  be  dead  with  Christ  Jesus,  we  shall  live  also  with Him,"  says  the  Apostle;  "if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign with  Him"  (2  Tim.  ii.  11,  12).

Pray for  us,  St.  Francis,  that  we  may  obtain  the  graces and favors  we  ask  for  in  this  novena;  pray  for  us,  especially, that  we  may  obtain  the  grace  of  perseverance;  of  a holy  death  and  a  happy  eternity. Say the  Our  Father, Hail  Mary,  Glory,  five  times.

BLESSED Thomas,  patron  of  schools,  obtain  for  us from  God  an  invincible  faith,  burning  charity,  a chaste  life,  and  true  knowledge,  through  Christ  our  Lord. Amen.

Indulgence of 100  days,  once  a  day. — Leo  XIII,  Dec. 14,  1889.