Praying with Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis was an Italian saint, who was born and died in Assisi in the early 13th century. His radical choice of life for "Lady Poverty," his love of creation and his spirituality in general have made him one of the most prayed-for saints worldwide, and a particularly inspiring role model for many Christians. Starting with Pope Francis, who chose this name as a tribute to the Poverello. The founder of the Order of Friars Minor wrote and inspired many prayers. Among other things, he teaches us to praise God for all his creatures and for his creation (Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind...). In 1979, Pope John Paul II made this saint and friend of nature and animals the patron saint of ecologists. Discover the prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi and the circumstances in which to ask for his intercession!


List of the most beautiful prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi

Of all the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi, here are 4 of his best-known:

  • The Canticle of Creatures, also sometimes called the Canticle of Creation or the Canticle of Brother Sun. This praise to God for all the work of His creation begins, in Latin, with the words Laudato Si'. Pope Francis used these words as the title of his encyclical on integral ecology written in 2015.
  • This prayer has long been attributed to St. Francis, whose spirit of compassion was so strong.
  • Saint Francis' morning prayer to offer one's day to God and welcome the day's grace.
  • Saint Francis' Pater Noster which is the Lord's Prayer paraphrased and commented on by the saint.
  • The praises of God to praise the Lord and his greatness.

Prayer of greeting to the Virgin Mary

"Hail, Mary, holy Lady, queen, holy mother of God,
 you are the Virgin who became the Church chosen by the most holy Father in heaven,
 consecrated by him as a temple with his beloved Son and the Paraclete Spirit
 you in whom was and remains all fullness of grace and He who is all good.

Hail, Palace of God!
 Hail, Tabernacle of God!
 Hail, House of God!
 Hail, Garment of God!
 Hail, Handmaid of God!

And greetings to you all, holy Virtues,
 who, by the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit,
 are poured into the hearts of the faithful.es into the hearts of the faithful,
 you who, unfaithful as we are,
 make us faithful to God!"

Prayer before the crucifix of Saint Damien

"Most high and glorious God, come and enlighten the darkness of my heart;

give me right faith, solid hope and perfect charity;

give me to feel and to know, so that I may accomplish it, your holy will which cannot lead me astray. Amen."

source: www.franciscains-nantes.org

Why pray to Saint Francis of Assisi?

Through his prayers, St. Francis offers us words to praise God and surrender to his will. But we can also ask the saint of Assisi to intercede for us with God. So we can entrust our prayers :

  • to Saint Francis, patron saint of ecologists, especially for the respect of creation, of the planet, for the ecological challenges of our time.
  • to Saint Francis, protector of animals, to protect animals, to heal or find our pet,... (Discover a prayer to Saint Francis for animals).
  • to Saint Francis, the Poverello, to accompany us on a path of conversion towards greater simplicity, sobriety and humility, as Pope Francis' integral ecology invites us to do.

The 800th anniversary of his death makes 2026 a special year for Saint Francis of Assisi!

Pray with Saint Francis of Assisi and discover Franciscan spirituality with Hozana

On Hozana, you'll find a wide range of suggestions for praying to the saints and walking with them. Some of them will enable you to pray to Saint Francis of Assisi and to draw inspiration from his spirituality, which has so much to offer us today.

  • Sign up and dare to set out to meet not only Saint Francis, but also the Other, as he knew so well how to do.
  • , give yourself 9 days to rediscover inner peace thanks to Saint Francis and his teachings.
  • that St. Francis valued so much.