Shortly before his death in October of 1226, St. Francis wrote his Testament which contained his last thoughts concerning the order he founded.
In it he urged his followers to remain faithful to the rules of the order and the prayer below is taken from this work.




This prayer by St. Francis was inspired by the Antiphon: Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi; quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundi, which was part of the Liturgy for Good Friday. This Antiphon has a long and venerable history as a prayer in and of itself. Pope St. Gregory the Great recommended it (Liber Responsalis, PL 78, 805) as did the monk Arnulphe (Documenta Vitae Religiosae, PL 184, 1177)

WE ADORE Thee, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all Thy churches that are in the whole world, and we bless Thee; because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the World.
Amen

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CATHOLIC NOVENA PRAYERS AND DEVOTIONS

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