St. Didacus, Confessor
Prayer: from the Liturgical Year, 1901 A Humble lay-brother, Didacus of St. Nicholas, is welcomed today by his father St. Francis into the company of Bernardine of Siena and John Capistran, who preceded him by a few years to heaven. The two latter left Italy and the whole of Europe still echoing with their voices, the one making peace between cities in the name of the Lord Jesus, the other urging on the Christian hosts to battle with the victorious Crescent. The age which they contributed so powerfully to save from the results of the great schism and to restore to its Christian destinies, knew little of Didacus but his unbounded charity. It was the year of the great Jubilee, 1450. Rome having become once more, practically as well as theoretically, the holy city in the eyes of the nations, not even the most terrible scourges could keep her children at a distance. From every quarter of the globe, crowds, urged by the evils of the time, flocked to the sources of salvation ; and Satan's work of ruin was retarded by seventy years. Men doubtless attributed but a very small share of such results to the humble brother, who was spending himself in the Ara-Caeli, in the service of the plague-stricken; especially they compared him with his brethren, the great Franciscan apostles. And yet the Church pays to Didacus today the very same honours as we have seen her pay to Bernardine and John Capistran. What is this but asserting that before God heroic acts of hidden virtue are not inferior to the noble deeds that dazzle the world, if, proceeding from the same ardent love, they produce in the soul the same increase of divine charity. The Pontificate of Nicholas V., which witnessed the imposing concourse of people to the tombs of the Apostles in 1450, was also, and still is, justly admired for the new impetus given to the culture of letters and the arts in Rome; for it belongs to the Church to adorn herself, for the honour of her Spouse, with all that men rightly deem great and beautiful. Nevertheless, who is there now of all the humanists, as the learned men of that age were called, who would not prefer the glory of the poor, unlettered Friar Minor, to that which vainly held out to them the hope of immortality? In the fifteenth century, as at all other times, God chose the foolish and the weak to confound the wise and the strong. The Gospel is always in the right.
Let us read the luminous life of this unlearned man, as given in the book of holy Church.
Didacus was a Spaniard, born at the little town of St. Nicholas de Porto in the diocese of Seville. From his early youth he began the practice of a perfect life, under the guidance of a pious priest in a solitary church. Then, in order to bind himself more closely to God, he made profession of the rule of St. Francis, in the convent of the Observantine Friars Minor at Arizzafa. There he bore the yoke of humble obedience and regular observance with great alacrity; and devoted himself especially to contemplation, in which he received wonderful lights from God, so that, illiterate as he was, he spoke of heavenly things in an admirable manner, evidently by a divine gift. He was sent to the Canary Isles to govern the brethren of his Order; and there he had much to suffer. He was burning with the desire of martyrdom; and by his words and example, he converted many infidels to the faith of Christ. Coming to Rome in the Jubilee year, in the pontificate of Nicholas V., he was entrusted with the care of the sick in the convent of Ara Caeli. With such loving charity did he acquit himself of this duty, that the sick wanted for nothing even during a famine in the city; he also sometimes cleansed their ulcers by sucking them. He was remarkable for his great faith and his gift of healing; for by signing the cross upon the sick with oil from a lamp burning before an image of the Mother of God, to whom he had the greatest devotion, he miraculously cured many of them. At length, when at Alcala, he understood that the end of his life was at hand. Clad in an old torn tunic, with his eyes fixed on the cross, he devoutly pronounced these words of the sacred hymn: O sweet wood, sweet are thy nails, and sweet thy burden; thou wast worthy to bear the King and Lord of heaven! He then gave up his soul to God, on the day before the Ides of November, in the year of our Lord 1463. His body was left unburied for several months, in order to satisfy the pious devotion of the numbers who came to see it; and, as though already clothed with immortality, it exhaled a sweet odour. He was renowned for many striking miracles, and was enrolled among the Saints by Pope Sixtus V.
O Almighty, everlasting God, who by an admirable order dost choose the weak things of the world, that thou mayest confound whatever is strong; mercifully grant to our lowliness, that by the pious prayers of blessed Didacus, thy Confessor, we may be made worthy to be exalted to everlasting glory in heaven." Such is the prayer addressed to God by the Church at all the liturgical Hours on this thy feast, O Didacus. Second her supplications; for thou art in high favour with him whom thou didst follow so lovingly along the way of humility and voluntary poverty. A royal road indeed, since it brought thee to a throne which far outshines all earthly thrones. Even here below, thou dost far surpass in renown many of thy contemporaries, who are now as forgotten as they were once illustrious. Sanctity alone merits crowns that endure through all ages of time and for all eternity; for God is the final awarder, as He is the supreme reason, of all glory, just as in Him lies the prinoiple of all true happiness both for this world and for the next. May we all, after thine example and by thine assistance, learn this by our own blessed experience! Amen
Litany of the Three Orders of Saint Francis
Lord, have mercy on us!
Christ, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us! Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us! God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us! God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us! Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us! Holy Mary, Pray for us* Holy Mother of God,* Holy Virgin of virgins, * Saint Michael, * Saint Gabriel, * Saint Raphael, * All ye holy Angels and Archangels, * All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, * Saint John Baptist, * Saint Joseph, * All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, * Saint Peter, * Saint Paul, * Saint Andrew, * Saint James, * Saint John, * Saint Thomas, * Saint James, * Saint Philip, * Saint Bartholomew, * Saint Matthew, * Saint Simon, * Saint Thaddeus, * Saint Mathias, * Saint Barnabas, * Saint Luke, * Saint Mark, * All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, * All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, * All ye holy Innocents, * Saint Stephen, * Saint Lawrence, * Saint Vincent, * Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian, * Saint John and Saint Paul, * Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, * Saint Gervase and Saint Protase, * Saint Bernard, * Saint Peter, * Saint Accursius, * Saint Adjute, * Saint Otho, * Saint Daniel, * Saint Angelo, * Saint Samuel, * Saint Domnus, * Saint Leo, * Saint Hugoline, * Saint Nicholas, * Saint Peter Baptist and all Japanese Martyrs, * Saint Nicholas and all Martyrs of Gorcum, * Saint Fidelis, * All ye holy Martyrs, * Saint Sylvester, * Saint Gregory, * Saint Ambrose, * Saint Augustine, * Saint Jerome, * Saint Bonaventure, * Saint Martin, * Saint Nicholas, * Saint Louis, * Saint Benvenute, * All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, * Saint Antony, * Saint Benedict, * Saint Bernard, * Saint Dominic, * Holy Father Francis, * Saint Anthony of Padua, * Saint Bernadine, * Saint John of Capistrano, * Saint James of Marchia, * Saint Peter of Alcantara, * Saint Francis Solano, * Saint Peter Regalate, * Saint Didacus, * Saint Paschal, * Saint Benedict, * Saint Pacific, * Saint John Joseph, * Saint Leonard, * Saint Theophile, * Saint Felix, * Saint Joseph of Leonissa, * Saint Seraphine, * Saint Joseph of Cupertino, * Saint Ferdinand, * Saint Louis, * Saint Ives, * Saint Elzear, * Saint Roche, * Saint Conrad, * Saint John Mary, * All ye holy Priest and Levites, * All ye holy Monks and Hermits, * Saint Mary Magdalen, * Saint Agatha, * Saint Lucy, * Saint Agnes, * Saint Cecilia, * Saint Catherine, * Saint Clare, * Saint Agnes of Assisi, * Saint Catherine of Bologna, * Saint Colette, * Saint Veronica, * Saint Rose of Viterbo, * Saint Hyacintha, * Saint Mary Frances, * Saint Angela, * Saint Anastasia, * Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, * Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, * Saint Margaret of Cortona, * Saint Brigid, * All ye holy Virgins and Widows, * All ye Saints of the three Orders of our Holy Father Francis: Intercede for us! All ye Saints of God: Intercede for us! Be merciful: Spare us, O Lord! Be merciful: Hear us, O Lord! From all evil, Deliver us, O Lord!** From all sin, ** From Thy wrath, ** From a sudden and unprovided death, ** From the snares of the devil, ** From anger, hatred, and all ill will, ** From the spirit of fornication, ** From lightning and tempest, ** From the scourge of earthquake, ** From pestilence, famine and war, ** From everlasting death, ** Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, ** Through Thy coming, ** Through Thy nativity, ** Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, ** Through Thy Cross and Passion, ** Through Thy death and burial, ** Through Thy holy Resurrection, ** Through Thine admirable Ascension, ** Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Paraclete, ** In the day of judgment, ** We sinners, beseech Thee hear us. That Thou wouldst spare us, We beseech Thee hear us.*** That Thou wouldst pardon us, *** That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, *** That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, *** That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, *** That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, *** That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously hear us, *** Son of God, *** Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father (inaudibly). V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil. Psalm LXIX O God, come to my assistance: O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let them be turned backward, and blush for shame, that desire evils unto me. Let them be straightway turned backward blushing for shame, that say unto me: 'Tis well, 'tis well. Let all that seek Thee be joyful and glad in Thee; and let such as love Thy salvation say always, the Lord be magnified. But I am needy and poor; O God, help Thou me. Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no long delay. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. V. Save Thy servants. R. Who hope in Thee, O my God. V. Be unto us, O Lord, a tower of strength. R. From the face of the enemy. V. Let not the enemy prevail against us. R. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt us. V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins. R. Neither requite us according to our iniquities. V. Let us pray for the true Sovereign Pontiff. R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. V. Let us pray for our benefactors. R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen. V. Let us pray for the faithful departed. R. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. V. May they rest in peace. R. Amen. V. For our absent brethren. R. Save Thy servants, who hope in Thee, my God. V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary. R. And defend them out of Sion. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. Let us pray: O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our humble petition; that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved. Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy suppliants, and forgive the sins of them that confess to Thee; that, in Thy bounty, Thou may grant us both pardon and peace. Show forth upon us, O Lord, in Thy mercy, Thy unspeakable loving-kindness; that Thou mayest both loose us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them. O God, Who by sin are offended, and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins. Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy clemency, into the way of everlasting salvation; that by Thy grace he may both desire those things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength. O God, from Whom all holy desires, all right counsels, and all just works do come, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts be devoted to the keeping of Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies being taken away, we may pass our time, by Thy protection, peacefully. Inflame, O Lord, our reins and heart with the fire of the Holy Ghost; that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a clean heart. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins; that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired. Direct our actions, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy inspirations, and further them with Thy continual help, that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from Thee, and through Thee be likewise ended. Almighty, everlasting God, Who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and Thou art merciful to all whom Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come hath already received them stripped of their mortal bodies, may, by the grace of Thy loving-kindness, and by the intercession of all the saints, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. R. Amen. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. R. Amen. V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen. Hail Mary Paraphrased for the Sick
Hail Mary.--O Mary, Star of the sea, all the needy and oppressed look up to thee! And so do I from my bed of sickness, lifting up my imploring eyes to thee and asking thee for help. O Mary, my Mistress and my Queen, let thy power and goodness be made manifest in me. O Mary, with all the faithful, all the holy angels and all the heavenly host I salute thee, saying: Hail, Mary!
Full of Grace.--God has raised thee to the greatest dignity, and wills that through thy hands abundant graces should flow down upon mankind. O Mary, Virgin full of grace, thou who art the comforter of the afflicted, the help of Christians, the health of the sick, obtain for me, poor creature, health of body and soul. The Lord is with Thee.--The Lord has done great things in thee! The eternal Father has chosen thee to be His Daughter; the only-begotten Son to be His Mother, and the Holy Ghost to be His Spouse. Thou art therefore all powerful with God, O Blessed Virgin; implore Him that His grace may never depart from me. Blessed art thou among women.--Thou art most blessed among thy sex. Thou art free from the curse of original sin and as a virgin hast given birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world. O Mary, the one chosen Mother of the Redeemer, all the nations of the earth call thee blessed. Never shall thy praise die on my lips; at all times will I extol and glorify thee, in order to make myself worthy of thy help and intercession. And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.--through Whom we obtain assistance in life, consolation and strength in suffering, peace and rest in death. O Blessed Virgin, would that I were happy enough, with thee and all the saints, to praise for all eternity Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb. Help me to attain thereto. Holy Mary, Mother of God.--Mother of God, Mother of Christ, Mother of mercy and my Mother! Pray for us sinners.--Look upon me, thy poor helpless child, calling out to thee from this valley of tears. Pray for me now, who am weak, sick and miserable; pray for me who in this vale of pilgrimage am surrounded by numerous foes striving to wrest from me the possession of the heavenly inheritance; obtain for me a lively faith, a firm hope, an ardent love, an invincible patience and the grace of final perseverance. But especially pray for me at the hour of death; commend me to Jesus, thy Son; present me to Him, that I may die happily and possess Him forever. Amen. http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/ |