Prayer and Temperament IV - Franciscan Prayer

The class continues...

Class 4 – Franciscan Prayer and Spirituality – the SP Temperament

Characteristics of the SP (Franciscan) Temperament
• Crisis-oriented
• Good at unsnarling messes
• Able to get things moving
• Impulsive
• Dislike rules
• In the present

Franciscan Spirituality
• Acts of loving service can be a most effective form of prayer
• Free-flowing, spontaneous, informal praising and loving dialogue with God
• Creation – sees the beauty and love of God everywhere
• Forgiving toward the past
• Optimistic and hopeful about the future
• Primarily interested in the real and literal

Prayer Life of the Franciscan (SP) Temperament
• Make use of the five senses
• Work is prayer
• Jesus Prayer
o “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner”
• Focus on celebration
• Free flowing

Prayer for next week
• Use the prayer suggestions on pages 75-78
• Read the attached prayers of St. Francis


Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Canticle of Brother Sun
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.
We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
who sustains us
with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.
We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
for love of You bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.