October Taizé: St. Francis of Assisi and Prayers for Peace

Download a copy of the music and readings here: Taize for October 3, 2024, St. Francis and Prayers for Peace.

Introduction

As we gather tonight, it is the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with whom we associate prayers and a lifestyle promoting peace. We gather at a time when there are many parts of our world, and maybe even our own neighborhoods, are not places of peace.

Chant: “Peace on Earth” Refrain by all; verses by cantors

Reading 1: “Universal Kinship — Francis’ most famous insight”

“Universal kinship” implies “integrity of creation” with a Franciscan flavor, for in kinship is how Francis believed all things should ideally be. He understood all things to be in relationship one to another as brother and sister — because all creatures have one Father and one Mother. Thus, each and every part depends on the other, and the whole depends on God. Therefore, all creatures form one family, and human beings are an integral part of the family.

And Francis’ relationship with nature did have a family-like quality to it. A cricket kept him company for eight days. The lark and the falcon announced for him the time of office. Flowers consoled him. He was thankful that the sun gave him light. He walked reverently upon stones because of the One called the Rock. Also, a pheasant would not leave Francis’ side when the Saint was sick but would force its way in under the brother’s habit to hide.

Leader: God of compassion, all creation is sustained by your love, enlivened by your Spirit, and suffused with the light of the risen Christ. We place before him our prayers and petitions.

1. Ignite in us, your Church, a fiery impatience with the abuse of your good creation, we pray:
2. Give us courage and wisdom to heal harms and do what is right in the land, we pray:
3. Make your Church a bold advocate for those harmed by the deterioration of the environment: those whose soil is sickened, whose water is polluted, whose land is threatened by rising sea levels, we pray:
4. Lead us from greed and overconsumption to ensure that all share in the gifts of your good creation, we pray:
5. Change our hearts from self-centeredness to other-centered affection, awe, and gratitude for the beauty of all you have made, we pray:
6. Fill us with compassion and let this compassion be completed in deeds of mercy and justice, we pray:

You are invited to add other spontaneous prayers as you light a votive on the altar from the Easter Candle.

Prayer of St. 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; 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; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Closing Prayer

May God strengthen our hearts for love of neighbor and the responsible stewardship of creation. And may the blessing of the Triune God come down upon us and remain with us forever, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you for coming. Please join us again on Nov. 7. In the meantime, we invite you to check our Precious Blood Renewal Center website for other opportunities of enrichment.

Music in this Worship Aid was reprinted with permission under onelicense.net, #A-725830