S. Francisci Caracciolo Confessoris

Factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquéscens in médio ventris mei: quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me. (Allelúja, allelúja) Quam bonus Israël Deus: his, qui recto sunt corde! Factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquéscens in médio ventris mei: quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me. (Allelúja, allelúja)

My heart has become like wax melting away within my bosom, because zeal for Your house consumes me. How good God is to Israel, to those who are clean of heart! My heart has become like wax melting away within my bosom, because zeal for Your house consumes me.

Deus, qui beátum Francíscum, novi órdinis institutórem, orándi stúdio et pœniténtiæ amóre decorásti: da fámulis tuis in ejus imitatióne ita profícere; ut, semper orántes et corpus in servitútem redigéntes, ad cœléstem glóriam perveníre mereántur.

O God, Who endowed blessed Francis, the founder of a new Order, with zeal for prayer and love of penance, grant that Your servants may make such progress in imitating him, that, praying constantly and bringing their bodies under control, they may be found worthy to attain heavenly glory.

Léctio libri Sapiéntiæ Justus, si morte præoccupátus fúerit, in refrigério erit. Senéctus enim venerábilis est non diutúrna, neque annórum número computáta: cani autem sunt sensus hóminis, et ætas senectútis vita immaculáta. Placens Deo Jactus est diléctus, et vivens inter peccatóres translátus est. Raptus est, ne malítia mutáret intelléctum ejus, aut ne fíctio decíperet ánimam illíus. Fascinátio enim nugacitátis obscúrat bona, et inconstántia concupiscéntiæ transvértit sensum sine malítia. Consummátus in brevi explévit témpora multa, plácita enim erat Deo ánima illíus: propter hoc properávit edúcere illum de médio iniquitátum.

Lesson from the book of Wisdom The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported - snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; for the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to God, therefore He sped him out of the midst of wickedness.

Quemádmodum desíderat cervus ad fontes aquárum: ita desíderat ánima mea ad te, Deus. Sitívit ánima mea ad Deum fortem vivum. Allelúja, allelúja. Defécit caro mea et cor meum: Deus cordis mei, et pars mea Deus in ætérnum. Allelúja.

As the deer longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for You, O God. V. Athirst is my soul for the strong living God. Alleluia, alleluia. My flesh and my heart waste away; God is the God of my heart and my portion forever. Alleluia.

Continuation + of the Holy Gospel according to Luke At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning, and you yourselves like men waiting for their master’s return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may straightway open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the master, on his return, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will gird himself, and will make them recline at table, and will come and serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, and if in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! But of this be assured, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly have watched, and not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because at an hour that you do not expect, the Son of Man is coming.

Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus, quæ in Líbano est, multiplicábitur. (Allelúja.)

The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.

Da nobis, clementíssime Jesu: ut præclára beáti Francísci mérita recoléntes, eódem nos, ac ille, caritátis igne succénsi, digne in circúitu sacræ hujus mensæ tuæ esse valeámus:

Grant, most merciful Jesus, that, as we commemorate the renowned merits of blessed Francis, and aflame with the same fire of love as burned within him, we may be able to stand worthily around Your holy table.

Quam magna multitúdo dulcédinis tuæ, Dómine, quam abscondísti timéntibus te! (Allelúja.)

How great is the goodness, O Lord, which You have in store for those who fear You.

Sacrosáncta sacrifícii, quǽsumus, Dómine, quod hódie in sollemnitáte beáti Francísci tuæ obtúlimus majestáti, grata semper in méntibus nostris memória persevéret et fructus.

O Lord, may the most holy sacrifice, which we have today offered unto Your majesty on the feast of blessed Francis leave in our minds an enduring memory and lasting results.