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Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi
OUR FATHER
most holy, our Creator and Redeemer, our Savior and our Comforter.
WHO ART IN HEAVEN
in the angels and the saints, giving them light to know you,
since you, Lord, are light; setting them afire to love you, since
you, Lord, are love; dwelling in them and giving them fullness of
joy, since you, Lord, are the supreme, eternal good, and all good
comes from you.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME,
may we grow to know you better and better and so appreciate the
extent of your favors, the scope of your promises, the sublimity
of your majesty, and the profundity of your judgements.
THY KINGDOM COME,
so that you may reign in us by your grace, and bring us to your
kingdom, where we shall see you clearly, love you perfectly and,
happy in your company, enjoy you forever.
THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS
IN HEAVEN,
so that we may love you with all our heart, by always having you
in mind; with all our soul, by always longing for you; with all
our mind, by determining to seek your glory in everything; and
with all our strength, of body and soul, by lovingly serving you
alone. May we love our neighbors as ourselves, and encourage them
all to love you, by bearing our share in the joys and sorrows of
others, while giving offence to no one.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,
your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may remember
and appreciate how much He loved us, and everything he said and
did and suffered.
AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,
in your immeasurable mercy, by virtue of the passion of your Son,
and through the intercession of Mary, and all your saints.
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS
AGAINST US,
and if we do not forgive perfectly, Lord, make us forgive
perfectly, so that, for love of you, we may really forgive our
enemies, and fervently pray to you for them, returning no one
evil for evil, but trying to serve you in everyone.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
be it hidden or obvious, sudden or persistent.
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL,
past, present or future,
Amen.
[downloaded from http://www.cwo.com/~pentrack/catholic/francis1.html , May 12, 2002]