Franciscan Tradition, the Extraction of the Patron Saints
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THE RITE OF DRAWING PARTON SAINT, Scripture Quote and Prayer Partner for the Year
Background: This is a very old custom within the Franciscan Community. We believe that God speaks to us in many ways. He reveals himself in the Sacred Scriptures of the Bible. We can also learn of His will for us as we consider the lives and words of the holy men and women, we call The Saints. In addition, we believe that special patron saints are our spiritual friends and praise and pray to God with us and for us.
You will randomly pick a patron saint for the year, as well as a special scripture quote will be selected at random from a collection of saints names and maxims. The saying may well offer you a word of comfort or a challenge to growth in the coming year. If you can, learn about the saint who is your patron for the year. Read a biography of the individual. Pray that God may show you how to emulate some aspect of that saint’s quest for God.
You will also randomly select a prayer partner for the year. You can let the person you pick be aware that you received their name or not.
THE RITE
Opening Hymn: Come Holy Ghost
Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest.
And in our hearts, take up your rest;
Come with your grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which you have made. (Repeat)
O comfort blest, to you we cry,
Thou heavenly Gift of God Most High;
Thou Font of Life and Firs of Love
And sweet Anointing from above. (Repeat)
Praise be to Thee, Father and Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One;
And may the Son on us bestow
The Gifts that from the Spirit flow. (Repeat)
Presider: Send forth Your Spirit O Lord and we shall be re-created
ALL: And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Presider: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, we celebrate that season when your Word became flesh for all the world to see. In becoming one with our human family Jesus sanctified our human activity and made us holy through his life-giving word. Through the ages his message has torched the hearts of men and women of every place, taking flesh in our lives as we minister to one another in Christian service. May these Holy men and women who stand as shinning examples of Christian virtue and Gospel life, for each reflects some aspect of your divine love. Be with us today, Lord our God, as we choose one of these saints as our patron during this coming year. With the help of your Spirit may the saint given us today serve as a special reminder of our own call to holiness. May his or her teaching and example serve to inspire us to exercise Christian virtue and to follow your Son more closely in our own way of life. We ask this through Christ your Son.
ALL: AMEN.
The appointed person draws and reads the name of one person present, a saint’s name and a passage of Sacred Scripture or maxim. These are then presented to the person. Afterwards, we pray together:
Psalm 150
Praise God in his holy place,
Praise Him in the mighty heavens.
Praise Him for his powerful deeds,
Praise His surpassing goodness.
O Praise Him with sound of trumpet,
Praise Him with lute and harp,
Praise Him with timbrel and dance,
Praise Him with strings and pipes.
O praise Him with resounding cymbals,
Praise Him with clashing cymbals
Let everything that has life and breath
Give praise to the Lord.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.
PRESIDER: The Lord is the Honor of his saints.
ALL: He has heard those who cry to Him.
Presider: Let us pray. O God, you have raised up men and women outstanding in holiness as examples to your people in following your footsteps. Grant that we may ever look to the example and teaching of your saints, imitating their virtue, and thus merit to arrive at your heavenly banquet. We ask this through Christ the Lord. Amen.
Concluding Hymn: Joy to the World!
Joy to the World! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing, (2) And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world! The Savior reigns;
Let all their songs employ.
While fields and flocks, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat their sounding joy, (2x) Repeat, Repeat their sounding joy,
He rules the world with truth and grace.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love, (2x) And wonders, wonders of His love.
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