Franciscan Wake Prayer

OPENING HYMN

(All make the Sign of the Cross)

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit.


INTRODUCTION

Leader:

Praised be God,

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies,

and the God of all consolation.


He comforts us in all our afflictions

and thus enables us 

to comfort those

who are in trouble,

with the same consolation

we have received from him.

All: Blessed be God, 

the Father of our 

Lord Jesus Christ.


OPENING PRAYER

Leader:

Almighty God,

your love never fails

and you turn the shadow of death

into a new dawn.

May we receive your word

with believing hearts.

May the promises of Scripture

give us hope

and lift us from darkness

into the light and peace

of your Son, Jesus Christ, 

our risen Lord.

All: Amen.


SCRIPTURE READING

Leader: 

A reading from the holy Gospel 

according to John (Jn 12:23-25)


Jesus replied to them: 

"Now the hour has come 

for the Son of Man to be glorified.

I tell you most solemnly, 

unless a grain of wheat 

falls on the ground and dies, 

it remains only a single grain; 

but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.

Anyone who loves his life loses it, 

anyone who hates his life 

in this world 

will keep it for the eternal life."


Leader: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.


THE CANTICLE OF BROTHER SUN

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Most high, all powerful, good Lord,

all praise, glory, honour, 

and blessing are yours.

They belong to you alone, 

Most High,

for no one is worthy 

to mention your name.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praised be you, my Lord, 

with all your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun.

He is the day and through him 

you give us light.

He is beautiful and radiant 

with great splendour,

and bears your likeness, 

Most High One.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praised be you, my Lord, 

through Sister Moon and the stars.

You formed them in heaven

clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through Brother Wind,

through the heavens - 

cloudy and serene -

and through every kind of weather.

Through them you give sustenance 

to your creatures.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praised be you, my Lord, 

through Sister Water.

She is very useful, humble, 

precious and chaste.

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through Brother Fire.

Through him you light up the night;

he is beautiful, cheerful, 

robust and strong.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Mother Earth.

She sustains and governs us,

and produces various fruits 

with coloured flowers and herbs.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praised be you, my Lord, 

through those who forgive 

out of love for you,

and through those 

who bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those 

who endure in peace;

You, Most High, will crown them.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Sadness to those 

who die in mortal sin;

blessed are those 

who die in your most holy will,

for the second death 

shall not harm them.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Praise and bless my Lord.

Give him thanks 

and serve him with great humility.

Response: 

Praised be you, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death; 

no living person can escape her.


Leader: 

A reading from the 

Second Life of St Francis 

by Thomas of Celano


Francis spent the few days 

that remained 

before his death in praise, 

teaching his companions 

whom he loved so much 

to praise Christ with him. 

He himself, in as far as he was able, 

broke forth in this psalm: 

"I cried to the Lord 

with my voice; 

with my voice 

I made loud supplication 

to the Lord." 

He also invited 

all creatures to praise God, 

and by means of the words 

he had composed earlier, 

he exhorted them 

to love God. 

He exhorted death itself, 

terrible and hateful to all, 

to give praise, 

and going joyfully to meet it, 

he invited it 

to make its lodging with him. 

"Welcome," he said, 

"sister death." 

(Celano, Life II, 217)

(Silent moment of reflection)

Pg 45: Litany of the Saints - Optional

INTERCESSIONS

Leader: 

Let us pray 

for our brother/sister (N...) 

To Jesus Christ our Lord, who said: 

"I am the Resurrection, 

I am the Life; 

to believe in me means life, 

in spite of death, 

and all who believe in me 

shall never die."


you raised the dead to life. 

Give eternal life 

to our brother/sister. 

Lord, in your mercy.

Response: Hear our prayer.


was washed in the 

waters of baptism 

and sealed with holy anointing. 

Grant him/her a place 

with your saints and elect. 

Lord, in your mercy.

Response: Hear our prayer.


at the sacred banquet 

of your body and blood. 

Grant him/her a place 

at the table in your kingdom. 

Lord, in your mercy.

Response: Hear our prayer.


Leader: 

God of life and death, 

we come to you believing 

that those who have died 

with your Son, Jesus, 

are buried with Him 

in the sure hope of rising again. 

We pray in Jesus' name. 

All: Amen.


THE LORDS' PRAYER & 

THE ANGELIC SALUTATION 

At the Saviour's command 

and formed by divine teaching, 

we dare to say:

All: 

Our Father, who art in heaven, 

hallowed be thy name; 

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth 

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day 

our daily bread; 

and forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those 

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil.


Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you amongst women

and blessed is the 

fruit of your womb, Jesus. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death. Amen.


CONCLUDING RITE

Leader:

Eternal rest grant unto (N...) O Lord.


All: And let perpetual light 

shine upon him/ her.


Leader: May he/she rest in peace.

All: Amen.


Leader: 

May his /her soul 

and the souls of 

all the faithful departed, 

through the mercy of God, 

rest in peace.

All: Amen.


Leader: 

May the love of God 

and the peace of 

our Lord Jesus Christ 

bless and console us 

and gently wipe 

every tear from our eyes: 

in the name of the Father, 

and of the Son, 

and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.


All: 

We adore you, 

Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, 

here and in all your churches 

throughout the world 

and we bless you 

because by Your Holy Cross, 

you have redeemed the world.


CLOSING HYMN