The Prayer of St. Francis de Sales (Patron Saint of writers and journalists)
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
Confidence in God
It is good to mistrust ourselves, but how would that advantage us were we not to throw all our confidence on God, and to wait on His mercy? If you feel no such confidence, cease not on that account from making these acts and from saying to Our Lord: “Yet, O Lord, though I have no feeling of confidence in You, nevertheless, I know that You are my God, that I am all Yours, and that I have no hope but in Your goodness; so, I abandon myself entirely into Your Hands.” It is always in our power to make these acts; although we have difficulty in performing them, still there is no impossibility. Thus, we testify faithfulness to our Lord.
My Cross
The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, alms of the all-merciful love of God.
Prayer of St. Francis de Sales
Lord, I am Yours,
and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours,
and must live only by You.
My will is Yours,
and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause,
since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest,
since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being,
since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself,
since I am all Yours and all in You.
Amen.
Litany of St. Francis de Sales
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
O God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us
O Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales,
St. Francis, miracle of the most august Trinity,
St. Francis, faithful imitator of Jesus Christ,
St. Francis, attached to the the service of the Blessed Virgin,
St. Francis, practicing the virtues of the Saints,
St. Francis, most devote to Jesus crucified,
St. Francis, august tabernacle of true religion,
St. Francis, most humble in prosperity,
St. Francis, most patient in adversity,
St. Francis, true portrait of the meekness of Christ,
St. Francis, simple as the dove,
St. Francis, example of angelic modesty,
St. Francis, exact observer of evangelic poverty,
St. Francis, excellent example of the purity of angels,
St. Francis, ever obedient to the Apostolic See,
St. Francis, generously despising the world,
St. Francis, powerful vanquisher of demons,
St. Francis, invincible triumpher over the flesh,
St. Francis, inflamed with the love of God,
St. Francis, abounding in virtues,
St. Francis, all to all for the salvation of souls,
St. Francis, most dear to God, and beloved by men,
St. Francis, unwearied apostle of Geneva and its territory,
which thou didst so laboriously reunite to the one true Church of God,
St. Francis, most fervent pastor, ever careful to lead thy flock to the fold of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
St. Francis, most renowned for thy miracles,
St. Francis, greatest of all thy miracles,
St. Francis, patriarch of the Visitation,
St. Francis, continual martyr to thy love of God,
St. Francis, father of many Saints, by the holy rules which thou hast left for every state,
St. Francis, powerful protector to obtain of God that mildness which preserves the peace of the heart,
St. Francis, amiable patron of those who invoke thee,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
O Blessed Francis, like the fruitful olive-tree in the house of God, radiant in miracles, make us partakers of thy sanctity and of the light which thou enjoyest.
V. Pray for us, Blessed Francis of Sales.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, by whose gracious will the Blessed Francis, thy confessor and bishop, became all things unto all men, for the saving of their souls, mercifully grant that, being filled with the sweetness of thy love, we may, through the guidance of his counsels, and by the aid of his merits, attain unto the joys of life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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