Franciscan Litany of All Saints 

Since today is the day Franciscans commemorate All Souls of the Seraphic Order (we'll celebrate the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order on 29 November), I thought it'd be in keeping with things to share a Franciscan Litany of All Saints. What better way to pray for all the souls of our Order than by asking our sainted Franciscan brothers and sisters to join in?

I've seen a few different litanies while a-Googlin', and this particular one is from the Secular Franciscan Companion (pp. 266-276), 1987 edition. This version lists only the canonized Franciscan saints as of the edition's 1987 publication date, a total of 125. (Please pardon any typos/goofs -- this was a lot to type! If you catch any errors, please lemme know and I'll fix 'em.)

A Franciscan Litany of All Saints

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God, the Father, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Queen of the Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Holy Father Francis, pray for us.

All you holy martyrs of the Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saints Berard, Accursius, Adjutus, Otto, and Peter, Protomartyrs, pray for us.
Saints Daniel, Angelo, Domnus, Hugolinus, Leo, Nicholas, and Samuel, Martyrs of Africa, pray for us.
Saints Nicholas Tavelic, Deodat of Aquitaine, Peter of Narbonne, and Stephen of Cuneo, Martyrs of the Holy Land, pray for us.
Saint Thomas More, Martyr of England, pray for us.
Saints Nicholas Pick, Anthony Hornaer, Anthony of Weert, Cornelius, Francis, Godfrey, Jerome, Nicasius, Peter, Theodoric, Willehad, Martyrs of Holland, pray for us.
Saints Peter Baptist Blasquez, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco, Philip of Jesus of Mexico, Gonzalo García of India, and you holy seventeen Japanese members of the Third Order, Saints Anthony of Nagasaki, Bonaventure, Cosmas, Francis of Fahelante, Francis of Miyako, Gabriel, Joachim, John, Leo, Louis, Matthias, Michael, Paul Ibaraki, Paul Zuzuki, Peter, Thomas Danki, and Thomas Kosaki, Protomartyrs of Japan, pray for us.
Saints John Jones and John Wall, Martyrs of England, pray for us.
Saints Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Protomartyr of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith, pray for us.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Martyr of Auschwitz, pray for us.

All you holy priests of the First Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Gospel and Wonderworker, pray for us.
Saint Bonaventure, Seraphic Doctor, pray for us.
Saint Benvenute of Osimo, Bishop, pray for us.
Saint Louis of Tolouse, Bishop, pray for us.
Saint Bernardine of Siena, pray for us.
Saint John Capistran, pray for us.
Saint Peter Regalado, pray for us.
Saint James of the March, pray for us.
Saint Peter of Alcantara, pray for us.
Saint Francis Solano, pray for us.
Saint Joseph of Leonissa, pray for us.
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Saint Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us.
Saint Pacificus of San Severino, pray for us.
Saint John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us.
Saint Theophilus of Corte, pray for us.
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice, pray for us.
Saint Leopold Mandic, pray for us.

All you holy lay brothers of the First Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Didacus of Alcalá, pray for us.
Saint Salvator of Horta, pray for us.
Saint Felix of Cantalice, pray for us.
Saint Benedict the Black, pray for us.
Saint Paschal Baylon, pray for us.
Saint Seraphim of Montegranaro, pray for us.
Saint Charles of Sezze, pray for us.
Saint Ignatius Laconi, pray for us.
Saint Francis Camporosso, pray for us.
Saint Conrad of Parzham, pray for us.

All you holy virgins of the Second Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Holy Mother Clare of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Agnes of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Colette of Corbie, pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Bologna, pray for us.
Saint Veronica Giuliani, pray for us.

All you holy priests of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Yves of Brittany, pray for us.
Saint Charles Borromeo, pray for us.
Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, pray for us.
Saint Vincent Palotti, Founder, pray for us.
Saint John Mary Vianney, Patron of Parish Priests, pray for us.
Saint Joseph Cafasso, pray for us.
Saint Michael Garicoits, pray for us.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Founder, pray for us.
Saint John Bosco, Founder, pray for us.
Saint Pius X, Pope, pray for us.

All you holy foundresses of religious congregations who were members of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Bridget of Sweden, pray for us.
Saint Jane of Valois, pray for us.
Saint Angela Merici, pray for us.
Saint Mary Bartholomea Capitanio, pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalen Postel, pray for us.
Saint Vincentia Gerosa, pray for us.
Saint Joachima de Mas y de Vedruna, pray for us.
Saint Mary Josepha Rossello, pray for us.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us.

All you holy men of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Ferdinand, King of Castile and Leon, pray for us.
Saint Louis, King of France, Patron of the Third Order, pray for us.
Saint Elzear of Sabran, pray for us.
Saint Roch of Montpellier, pray for us.
Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit, pray for us.

All you holy women of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Patroness of the Third Order, pray for us.
Saint Rose of Viterbo, Virgin, pray for us.
Saint Zita of Lucca, Virgin, pray for us.
Saint Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Saint Clare of Montefalco, Virgin and Religious, pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us.
Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us.
Saint Frances of Rome, pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Genoa, pray for us.
Saint Hyacintha Mariscotti, Virgin and Religious, pray for us.
Saint Mariana of Jesus of Quito, Virgin, pray for us.
Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, Virgin, pray for us.

All you holy Cordbearers of St. Francis, pray for us.
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, pray for us.
Saint Joseph Calasanctius, Founder, pray for us.
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Virgin and Religious, pray for us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Let us pray:
Almighty everlasting God, we thank You for granting us the joy of honoring our holy Father Francis and his sainted followers and enjoying the protection of their unceasing prayers. Grant us also the grace to imitate their example and so attain their fellowship in eternal glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Labels: franciscan, liturgy, prayer, saints

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posted by Lisa, sfo | Permalink | 0 comments |links to this post

Worst. Franciscan. Ever. 

That would be me.

Seriously, there are oodles o' days where I feel like an Utter Franciscan Failure. I forget to pray when tempted. Fly off the handle. Let myself get sucked into a gossip-laden conversation with coworkers. Procrastinate. Get pathetically lazy about praying the Divine Office, which I'm obligated to do, and regularly reading our Rule. I could go on and on and on, but it's way too depressing.

I was reminded of my shortcomings yet again last week, when I suffered through a wretched meeting at work wherein I and my fellow writers were unexpectedly -- and undeservedly -- subjected to a BashFest. I don't do well in defending myself when folks start slamming me, in a meeting, in front of others, because I never see that kind of crap coming and am caught off-guard. (You'd think I'd learn.) I wouldn't do it to others, and so I never expect others to do it to me. But, it happens, and it happened Thursday.

I tried to defend myself and the other writers (who weren't present, btw) during the meeting, but could've done loads better. For the rest of the day, I was grumpy and upset, and it only got worse as time passed. When the workday was over and I finally walked through the front door, poor Husband Mike had to endure Lots Of Frustrated Yelling from me as I vented and complained. I can't remember the last time I've been so angry over something work-related, and I was actually feeling nauseous from it. I knew I had to Get Over It, but the more I tried to stop thinking about it, the more it filled my head.

And then we had to go to Mass, it being All Saints Day. Because of my bad mood, I snapped at Husband Mike over something trivial as we were leaving, which of course Ticked Him Off. On the drive there, I silently continued the struggle to Get Over It, and failed. Thanks to me, we were both grumpy and upset when we pulled into the parking lot.

Great way to head into Mass, I thought. A second later, I was smacked upside the head with sorrow. I apologized to Husband Mike over my behavior and Inability To Stop Thinking About Work. And he asked me, "Well, have you tried praying about it?"

Duh.

Of course, I hadn't. In fact, it hadn't even occurred to me to pray for help with getting past my livid-murderous-seethingness. Yet again, Lisa = Freakin' Dumbass Of A Franciscan.

During Mass, as we sang the Litany of the Saints for the Processional, I choked up over the refrain, "All you holy men and women / pray for us". Pray for us. Please, you holy men and women, pray for us. Pray for me. Pray that the Lord will help me overcome my stupidity, laziness, and anger, because I can't do it on my own. Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. Please, help me. You know I'm an idiot. Without You, I don't stand a chance.

Thank God for the Mass, and for the saints. Pray for us.

Labels: franciscan, mass, prayer, reflections, saints

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posted by Lisa, sfo | Permalink | 6 comments |links to this post

Happy Feast of St. Francis 

I tried thinking of a Profound And/Or Significant Subject To Post About in honor of the day, but, alas, came up short. (Gee, big surprise.) So, instead I figgered I'd share my recent investigation on how to properly dispose of razorblades! Well, y'know, it's got a bit of an environmental connection and Francis is the patron of ecology and ... and ... eh, whatever.

My recent questing was triggered last night while preparing to shave the ol' gams. I've got one o' them replaceable-blade razors, and 'twas time to pop out the old blade and put in a fresh one. As I contemplated the bitty plastic tray (properly called "magazine") full of used blades (properly called "cartridges") ready to be tossed, I wondered again if there was a better way to deal with 'em than to simply toss said Tray-O-Blades into the trash. Isn't that pushing things, safety-wise? And how environmentally-friendly is that, anyway?

I asked Husband Mike what his thoughts were, but he's in the same boat with tossing his Tray-O-Guy-Blades and had no suggestions. Off I went a-Googling and turned up the following stuff:

This site recommended keeping "an old sour cream or yogurt container handy. Put old blades in the container and pour leftover epoxy in the container." Well, that's something to consider if we ever need to ditch craft-type ones. But still, I'm not sure putting 'em in containers of epoxy is the best way to go, environmentally.

Elsewhere, found a suggestion to take 'em to a local trade metal recycler. Again, I think that applies more to the crafty kind, not the disposable, shaving-your-legs, surrounded-by-plastic kind.

This comprehensive video wasn't that helpful for me, as it pretty much said to toss the tray-o-blades into the garbage, as-is:



And I guess I shouldn't be surprised that OSHA has gone into great detail on the matter as it pertains to long-term health care facilities. Lots of references to "bloodborne pathogens".

TreeHugger shared news about the Razor Saver, whose manufacturer clams it can "sharpen your used disposable razor heads for up to 130 shaves (!); using their math, that's a 75% reduction." At least it's a plus for the environment.

Finally, I came across this Safety Razor FAQ Database, which suggested calling your local garbage/sanitation department and see what they recommend. May haps I'll try that tomorrow.

So, there ya go. And don't suggest not shaving -- I can assure you that resembling a yeti is not high on my Happy List.

Labels: random, recycling, saints, st. francis

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posted by Lisa, sfo | Permalink | 1 comments |links to this post

Real saints carry swords? 

While celebrating Youngest Nephew's First Communion this weekend ('twas loverly), talk turned to his newest saint medal, which he'd recently picked out while shopping with his mom.

He already had one for St. George, which sports the standard "slaying-the-dragon" image, and the new one is St. Michael the Archangel, who's in the usual "standing-on-the-devil-with-drawn-sword" pose. Whole lotta' swordage goin' on.

Grandma asked him, "So, did you see any medals of St. [insert patron saint name here]?"

Before Youngest Nephew could reply, Oldest Nephew asked, "Who'd he slay?"

Labels: family, saints

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posted by Lisa, sfo | Permalink | 1 comments |links to this post

Cute: "Heavenly Lips" balm 

ROTFLOL! Gotta get me one o' these suckers:

Heavenly Lips, "The Lip Balm of the Saints"

I especially like this design. It's Joe On The Go! :-p

Labels: cute, joseph, saints, shopping

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posted by Lisa, sfo | Permalink | 0 comments |links to this post