The Transitus of St. Francis;
passing from this life into eternal life.
Saint Francis died just after sunset on October 3. He recited Psalm 142 and, during the closing verse, he died. This event is solemnly recalled each year by Franciscans to honour their holy Father’s entrance into joy. You are invited to commemorate this event by using this short service in your own home .
Preparation
Place a cross , a picture of St Francis on a suitable table.
Light some candles near a cross and a picture of St. Francis and have a time of silent reflection.
Reading
The Testament of Saint Francis :
Excerpt from Francis’ Testament which Francis gave to his brothers in 1226 shortly before he died.
And I worked with my hands, and I still desire to work; and I earnestly desire all brothers to give themselves to honest work. Let those who do not know how to work learn, not for desire to receive wages, but for example and to avoid idleness. And when we are not paid for our work, let us have recourse to the table of the Lord, begging alms from door to door. The Lord revealed a greeting to me that we should say: “May the Lord give you peace.”
The Testament, verses 20 – 23; Francis of Assisi:
Time of silent reflection.
Holding or looking at the picture of St. Francis.
Hymn
(sung or read )
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing winds that are so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Symbolic Action
Place the cross on the ground.
Recall that Francis asked to be placed on the bare earth to die.
Antiphon:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Francis, poor and humble, enters heaven rich and is welcomed with celestial hymns. Alleluia.
Psalm 142:
With all my voice I cry to the Lord,
with all my voice I entreat the Lord.
I pour out my trouble before him;
I tell him all my distress
while my spirit faints within me.
But you, O Lord, know my path.
On the way where I shall walk
they have hidden a snare to entrap me.
Look on my right and see:
there is no one who takes my part.
I have no means of escape,
not one who cares for my soul.
I cry to you, O Lord.
I have said: “You are my refuge all I have in the land of the living.”
Listen, then, to my cry
for I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue me from those who pursue me for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of this prison
and then I shall praise your name.
Around me the just will assemble because of your goodness to me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Antiphon.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Francis, poor and humble, enters heaven rich and is welcomed with celestial hymns. Alleluia.
Extinguish the candles to signify the death of Saint Francis.
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer
Having in mind St. Francis’ devotion to the wounds of our Lord, and looking at the figure of the Crucified, with arms outstretched, say
O God, you granted our blessed Father Francis
the reward of everlasting joy:
grant that we, who celebrate the memory of his death,
may at last come to the same eternal joy;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
