Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Saint Francis, admirable bishop, pray for us. Saint Francis, beloved of God, pray for us. Saint Francis, imitator of Jesus Christ, etc, Saint Francis, filled with the gifts of the Lord, Saint Francis, favorite of the Mother of God, Saint Francis, most devout to the saints, Saint Francis, burning with love for the Cross of Christ, Saint Francis, most closely united to the divine will, Saint Francis, vessel of election, Saint Francis, light of the Church, Saint Francis, perfect model of religious, Saint Francis, source of wisdom, Saint Francis, defender of the Catholic Faith, Saint Francis, good shepherd of thy people, Saint Francis, incomparable preacher, Saint Francis, scourge of heresy, Saint Francis, salt of the earth, Saint Francis, model of justice, Saint Francis, mirror of humility, Saint Francis, despiser of the world, Saint Francis, lover of poverty, Saint Francis, type of sweetness, Saint Francis, conqueror of carnal passions, Saint Francis, terror of devils, Saint Francis, merciful prop to penitents, Saint Francis, refuge of sinners, Saint Francis, providence of the poor, Saint Francis, consoler of the afflicted, Saint Francis, example of perfection, Saint Francis, ark of holiness, Saint Francis, imitator of the purity of the angels, Saint Francis, cherub of wisdom, Saint Francis, seraph of love, Saint Francis, our holy patriarch, Saint Francis, our sweet light, Saint Francis, our mighty protector, Saint Francis, our guide in the ways of God, Saint Francis, our refuge, Saint Francis, emulator of the angels, Saint Francis, imitator of the Apostles, Saint Francis, sharer in the glory of the martyrs, Saint Francis, glory of holy confessors, Saint Francis, teacher and director of virgins, Saint Francis, glorious fellow citizen of all the saints,
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, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O blessed Francis de Sales,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises ofChrist.
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 the aid of his merits, attain unto the joys of life everlasting. R. Amen.
*This prayer was composed by Pope Alexander VII and given in his own handwriting, together with the brief of beatification of Saint Francis de Sales, to the Bishop of Puy on December 28th, 1661, in the presence of Father de Chaugy. (This information was obtained from the unpublished letters of Father de Chaugy).
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church: Born in 1567 in the family castle in Savoy, France, St. Francis became a doctor of civil and ecclesiastical law, but then gave up law to become a priest. He was also consecrated a bishop. He converted many, and reconverted thousands from Calvinism. Known for his great learning and gentleness, he wrote two great spiritual classics: Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God. With St. Jane Frances de Chantal he founded the Order of Visitation nuns. St. Francis de Sales died in 1622.
