ST. FRANCIS' BLESSING | MUSICAL BY FR CHRISTOPHER COELHO OFM | BLESSINGS FROM THE FRIARS | SUBSCRIBE

Original Music and Lyrics: Fr. Christopher Coelho Vocals - J W Johnson Music Production - Praveen Francis Editing - Nelson Caitan Production: TAALA, Francisan Media Centre, India St. Francis' Blessing to Friar Leo - A Musical by Friar Christopher Coelho Friar Leo was one of St. Francis' close companions. According to the early sources, St. Francis wrote this blessing to assist Friar Leo in time of temptation. It appears on the reverse of the parchment which he gave Friar Leo . This writing of St. Francis has the unique honor of containing the signature of St. Francis, in the form of a Tau Cross drawn in red ink, between the letters of Leo's name [i.e. Le-T-o]. This blessing has become the customary one in Franciscan communities, and is recited over the friars by the local superior as the last prayer of the day. St. Francis ability to use language emphatically is seen particularly in the last sentence of this blessing. May the Lord bless thee and keep thee; may He show His face to thee and be merciful to thee. · May He turn His countenance to thee and give thee peace (cf. Num 6:24-26). 64 · May the Lord bless, friar Leo, thee. (cf. Num 6:27b) A Note on Friar Christopher Coelho He was born on 14th May 1932 at Cochin. He entered the Franciscan Order on 1st August 1952, made his Solemn Profession on 2nd August 1956, and was Ordained on 5th January 1958. Fr. Christopher Coelho was a writer, musician, painter, artist, poet, sculptor, film director, etc. He was the co-director of the film on Christ in Telugu, Karunamayudu. After a personal pilgrimage to Assisi and other Franciscan holy places, he wrote his first book on St. Francis, called A NEW KIND OF FOOL. His second book was a collection of Franciscan hymns called SING WITH FRANCIS. His 3rd book titled AND NOW I CAN SEE consists of a collection of short reflections. He has designed many churches, chapels, shrines and monuments: the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel at Sion, Mumbai; the Novitiate chapel at Palamaner, the cemetery of the friars, the Good Samaritan statue, St. Francis with sister water in front of the Juniorate, and so on. On 31st August 2007 Friar Christopher Coelho died in Hyderabad. He is buried in the friary cemetery at Palamaner.