This is a syndicated post from The Chant Café. [Read the original article...]
This 15th century Office hymn honoring St. Francis of Assisi focuses on the saint’s likeness to Christ,to the point of bearing Christ’s wounds in the stigmata.
Christ is the exemplar of all the choirs of saints. He is the prince of martyrs, the Sent One who rules the college of apostles, the Prince of virgins. And following Christ, according to this hymn, St. Francis is an honorary member of a number of saintly choirs. He and his brothers were like apostles. He is a martyr by desire. Although not a priest, he is one with the confessors, and with the virgins, he follows after Christ wherever He goes.
Perhaps some will enjoy meditating on this text rather than Make Me a
Channel of Your Peace. A worthy modern text is Randall DeBruyn’s
rendering of St. Francis’ great prayer at the Portiuncula, In Perfect Charity.
shines in glorious light
heav’nly college bright,
of special kind
are on St. Francis signed.
friends in poverty,
company,
cross that signals peace,
that shall not cease.
desire, he bears
Christ, whose sign he wears,
heav’ns Christ makes him be
martyr’s company.
the cross of Christ.
abstinence he sacrificed.
confessors now he reigns
their reward he gains.
robes as white as snow
where Christ’s footsteps go,
chastity’s great prize
above the skies.
and Spirit, by
Francis purify
who these gifts implore
forevermore.
(114)
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