Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.
Saint Francis Of Paula.
Confessor.
Feast Day 2 April.
Double.
White Vestments.
English: Saint Michael Abbey Church, Meuse, France. Stained-Glass Window: Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Francis of Paola, Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Charles Borromeo, Saint Saintin, Saint Vincent de Paul.
Français: Église abbatiale Saint-Michel, Meuse, France. Vitrail: Saint Pierre, Saint Paul, Saint François de Paule, Saint François de Sales, Saint François Xavier, Saint Charles Borromée, Saint Saintin, Saint Vincent de Paul.
Photo: 3 August 2013.
Source: Own work.
Author: Fab5669
(Wikimedia Commons)
Saint Francis was born at Paola, Calabria, Italy, in 1416.
When, thirteen years of age, “abandoning everything to acquire a treasure in The Kingdom of Heaven” (Gospel), he retired into a desert and led such a holy life there that numerous disciples soon came to place themselves under his guidance.
He then Founded The Order, to which, in his humility, he gave the name of “Minims”, that is to say: “Of The Least In The House Of God”.
“Despising everything to gain Christ, he endeavoured to resemble Him in His sufferings, so as to be able to participate in The Glory of His Resurrection” (Epistle).
God, Who exalts the humble (Collect), made him celebrated by numerous Miracles and by the gift of Prophecy. He died at the age of ninety-one in 1507.
Let us imitate the humility and penitence of Saint Francis, in order that we may attain the rewards promised to humble and mortified Souls (Collect).
Mass: Justus.
Commemoration (in Lent): Of The Feria.
Last Gospel (in Lent): Of The Feria.
