Francis, of the noble family of Caracciolo, in the Abruzzi, determined during a severe illness, to devote himself entirely to the service of God so as to be ready when the Master should come to take him away (Gospel).A letter delivered to him by mistake apprised him of a project of two pious men to found a new religious institute. In this he saw a providential sign and he became one of the founders of the Order of Minor Clerks Regular.
At his profession he took the name of Francis on account of his devotion to St. Francis of Assisi. To the love of penance he added a great zeal for prayer (Collect). Burning with love for the Blessed Sacrament, his heart melted like wax when he was in the presence of the Tabernacle (Introit); for there he felt the overflowing sweetness prepared by God for those who fear Him (Communion). He died at the age of forty, in 1608, on the Vigil of Corpus Christi, and "although his life was short, he completed a long course, for a spotless life is equivalent to protracted years" (Epistle).
Following St. Francis' example, let us pray and reduce our bodies to subjection (Collect) so that, burning like him with the fire of charity, we may worthily kneel at the Communion table (Secret).
Factum est cor meum tamquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei: quoniam zelus domus tuae comedit me. Alleluia, alleluia. * Quam bonus Israel Deus his, qui recto sunt corde.
My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels: for the zeal of Thy house hath eaten me up. Alleluia, alleluia. * How good is God to Israel : to them that are of a right heart.
(Psalm 21:15 and Psalm 68:10 and Psalm 72:1 from the Introit of Mass)
Deus, qui beatum Franciscum, novi ordinis institutorem, orandi studio et poenitentiae amore decorasti: da famulis tuis in ejus imitatione ita proficere; ut, semper orantes et corpus in servitutem redigentes, ad caelestem gloriam pervenire mereantur.
O God, who didst adorn blessed Francis, the founder of a new order, with a zeal for prayer and a love of penance; grant that Thy servants may make such progress in the imitation of his virtues, that by constant prayer, and bringing their bodies into subjection, they may deserve to attain heavenly glory.
(Collect)
From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06218a.htm
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