The Transitus: Order of Service
For the evening of October 3. A leader reads the parts in plain type; everyone says the parts in bold. Lights may be dimmed, with one candle lit.
Opening
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
His last days
From Thomas of Celano, his first biographer
So after he had rested for a few days in the place he had so greatly longed for, and knew that the time of death was imminent, he called to him two brethren, and his specially loved sons and bade them in exultation of spirit sing with a loud voice praises to the Lord concerning death which was near, or rather life which was so close at hand; while himself, as he was able, broke into that Psalm of David, "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice unto the Lord I made supplication."
... Finally he ordered the codex of the Gospels to be brought and asked to have the passage from the Gospel according to John read to him beginning at the words "Six days (sic) before the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour was come, that He should pass out of this world unto the Father."
Then, for that he was about to become dust and ashes, he bade that he should be laid on sack-cloth and sprinkled with ashes. All the brethren (whose father and leader he was) came together, and, as they stood reverently by and awaited his blessed departure and happy consummation, his most holy soul was released from the flesh and absorbed into the abyss of light, and his body fell asleep in the Lord.
A. G. Ferrers Howell, 1908 ("The Lives of S. Francis of Assisi by Brother Thomas of Celano", London: Methuen & Co.). Source
Psalm 142
The psalm Francis prayed as he died. All:
2 I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. 3 In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble: 4 When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me. 5 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul. 6 I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living. 7 Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 8 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward me.
Psalm 141 in the Douay-Rheims numbering. Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision. Source
The Gospel
John 13:1-15, the passage Francis asked to hear
1 Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And when supper was done, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,) 3 Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and goeth to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. 5 After that, he putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: You are not all clean. 12 Then after he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, being set down again, he said to them: Know you what I have done to you? 13 You call me Master, and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. 14 If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision. Source
His passing
From St. Bonaventure’s life of Francis
... he asked to be borne to Saint Mary of the Little Portion, that he might yield up the breath of life there, where he had received the breath of grace. When he had been brought thither... in that most severe weakness that followed after all his sickness, he prostrated himself in fervour of spirit all naked on the naked earth, that in that last hour, wherein the foe might still rise up against him, he might wrestle in his nakedness with that naked spirit. As he lay thus on the ground, his habit of haircloth laid aside, he lifted his face, as was his wont, toward heaven, and, wholly absorbed in that glory, covered with his left hand the wound in his right side, that it might not be seen, and said to the Brethren, "I have done what was mine to do, may Christ teach you what is yours."
At the hour of the passing of the holy man, the larks, birds that love the light, and dread the shades of twilight, flocked in great numbers to the roof of the house, albeit the shades of night were then falling, and, wheeling round it for a long while with songs even gladder than their wont, offered their witness, alike gracious and manifest, to the glory of the Saint, who had been wont to call them unto the divine praises.
E. Gurney Salter (Temple Classics translation, first published by J. M. Dent & Sons, London, 1904). Source Punctuation lightly adjusted.
A few moments of silence.
The Canticle of the Creatures
All, said or sung:
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord,
Praise, glory and honor and benediction all, are Thine.
To Thee alone do they belong, most High,
And there is no man fit to mention Thee.
Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures,
Especially to my worshipful brother sun,
The which lights up the day, and through him dost Thou brightness give;
And beautiful is he and radiant with splendor great;
Of Thee, most High, signification gives.
Praised be my Lord, for sister moon and for the stars,
In heaven Thou hast formed them clear and precious and fair.
Praised be my Lord for brother wind
And for the air and clouds and fair and every kind of weather,
By the which Thou givest to Thy creatures nourishment.
Praised be my Lord for sister water,
The which is greatly helpful and humble and precious and pure.
Praised be my Lord for brother fire,
By the which Thou lightest up the dark.
And fair is he and gay and mighty and strong.
Praised be my Lord for our sister, mother earth,
The which sustains and keeps us
And brings forth diverse fruits with grass and flowers bright.
Praised be my Lord for those who for Thy love forgive
And weakness bear and tribulation.
Blessed those who shall in peace endure,
For by Thee, most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be my Lord for our sister, the bodily death,
From the which no living man can flee.
Woe to them who die in mortal sin;
Blessed those who shall find themselves in Thy most holy will,
For the second death shall do them no ill.
Praise ye and bless ye my Lord, and give Him thanks,
And be subject unto Him with great humility.
Paschal Robinson, 1906 ("The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi", Philadelphia: The Dolphin Press), translated from the Assisi MS. 338 (fol. 33). Source
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Blessing
The blessing Francis wrote out for Brother Leo, from Numbers 6
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord shew his face to thee, and have mercy on thee. The Lord turn his countenance to thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26, Douay-Rheims, Challoner revision. Source