On the Feast of St Francis

I was confirmed with the name of Francis on the 25th of June 1961 at the age of seven by Bishop Humphrey Penderell Bright† in St Benedict's Church (which is in Atherstone, Warwickshire). In thanksgiving and in celebration of this feast at the beginning of Our Lady's month of the Rosary, here is a prayer said to have been composed by St Francis in her honour.

A Prayer of St Francis to the Blessed Virgin

Ave Domina, sancta Regina, sancta Dei genetrix Maria, quae es virgo ecclesia facta et electa a sanctissimo Patre de caelo, quam consecravit cum sanctissimo dilecto Filio suo et Spiritu sancto Paraclito, in qua fuit et est omnis plenitudo gratiae et omne bonum. Ave palatium eius; ave tabernaculum eius; ave domus eius. Ave vestimentum eius; ave ancilla eius; ave mater eius et vos omnes sanctae virtutes, quae per gratiam et illuminationem Spiritus sancti infundimini in corda fidelium, ut de infidelibus fideles Deo faciatis.

[From Directorio Franciscano]

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Hail Lady, Holy Queen, Holy Mary Mother of God, who art the Virgin made Church, chosen by the Most Holy Father of Heaven, whom He consecrated with His Most Holy beloved Son and with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; Thou in whom was and is all fulness of grace and every good.

Hail His Palace;

Hail His Tabernacle;

Hail His Home.

Hail His Vestment;

Hail His Handmaid;

Hail His Mother

and all ye holy virtues, which through the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit are infused into the hearts of the faithful, transforming the unfaithful into God's faithful. Amen.

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Salut, Marie, Notre Dame, sainte Reine, Sainte Mère de Dieu, vous êtes la Vierge devenue Eglise ; choisie par le très saint Père du ciel, consacrée par lui comme un temple avec son Fils bien-aimé et l'Esprit Paraclet ; vous en qui fut et demeure toute plénitude de grâce et Celui qui est tout bien. Salut, Palais de Dieu ! Salut, Tabernacle de Dieu ! Salut, Maison de Dieu ! Salut, Vêtement de Dieu ! Salut, Servante de Dieu ! Salut, Mère de Dieu ! Et salut à vous toutes, saintes Vertus, qui, par la grâce et l'illumination de l'Esprit-Saint, êtes versées dans le cœur des fidèles, vous qui, d'infidèles que nous sommes, nous rendez fidèles à Dieu ! Amen.

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The Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Francis of Assisi,

(1599).

By Francesco Vanni (Italian, 1563-1610)

"This painting by Francesco Vanni, a leading Sienese artist in the late 1500s, depicts the Virgin Mary’s miraculous appearance to Saint Francis of Assisi. As he embraces the infant Jesus, his older companion has fallen asleep while meditating on a skull, a symbol of mortality. Commissioned by the Italian Cardinal Buonviso Buonvisi, the canvas was offered to the monastery of the Cordeliers de l’Observance in Lyon, France, where it hung in the Chapelle des Lucquois, reputedly designed by Michelangelo." 

[See RISD Museum]

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.