Featured Image Photo Credit: Kristin McCarthy, 2016, Ermitage Saint-Antoine de Lac-Bouchette, Lac Bouchette, Quebec, Canada

The book “Works of the Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi” (R. Washbourne Publisher, 18 Paternoster Row, London. 1882) is authored by St. Francis of Assisi. The publisher has taken his writings and letters and the rules for the Friars Minor and created a really interesting book—it is Francis’ own words and writings, including prayers. The Lord’s Prayer is found on pp. 170-1.

A copy of this book is digitized and can be found at archive.org.

St. Francis’ Paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, most Blessed and most Holy, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Comforter.

Who art in Heaven, in the Angels and Saints, illuminating them with the knowledge of Thyself, for Thou, O Lord, art Light; inflaming them with Thy Divine love, for Thou, O Lord, art Love ; dwelling in them and filling them with beatitude, for Thou, O Lord, art the Sovereign Good, the Eternal Good, from Whom proceeds all good, and without Whom nothing is good.

Hallowed be Thy Name, May Thy knowledge shine in us, that we may know the breadth of Thy benefits, the length of Thy promises, the height of Thy Majesty, and the depth of Thy judgments.

Thy Kingdom come, that Thou mayest reign in us by Thy grace, and bring us to Thy Kingdom when we shall enjoy Thy open vision. Thy perfect love. Thy blessed company and Thy eternal fruition.

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, that we may love Thee with our whole heart by always thinking of Thee; with our whole soul by always desiring Thee; with all our mind by always directing our intention to Thee, and seeking Thy glory in all things; and with all our strength by employing all the powers and senses of our soul and body in the service of Thy love, and in nothing else; and that we may love our neighbour as ourselves, drawing all to Thy love with all our power, rejoicing in the good of others as in our own, compassionating them in their troubles, and giving offence to no one.

Give us this day, by our remembrance, understanding and reverence for the love He bore to us, and of all He did, and said and suffered for us, our daily bread; that is, Thy beloved Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

And forgive us our trespasses, by Thy ineffable mercy, in virtue of the Passion of Thy beloved Son Our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints.

As we forgive them that trespass against us, and what we do not fully forgive, do Thou, O Lord, make us forgive; that for Thy sake we may truly love our enemies, and devoutly intercede for them with Thee; that we may never render evil for evil, but for Thy love may endeavour to serve all.

And lead us not into temptation, whether hidden or manifest, sudden or constant.

But deliver us from evil, past, present and future.

Amen. Spontaneously and out of Thy free mercy.