The Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen. The Prayer of St. Francis is beloved by many, but what many do not know is that it actually was not penned by St. Francis himself. The prayer was first written in the French Catholic newspaper, La Clochette, in 1912. It was written in a time of fear when war was imminent and what people needed most from each other, their church, and their faith was hope. The prayer was associated with St. Francis because of an Assisi postcard that featured both St. Francis and the prayer. It resurfaced during World War II and during the Cold War as an instrument of peace. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also read the prayer, referencing St. Francis, on her first day of being Prime Minister. The prayer has continued to be a message of peace and hope to this day. St. Francis found the base of his love and hope for humanity among those who had very little hope left to give. He created love for others and was fed by his love of and from God. St. Francis did not write the prayer himself, but it's no wonder that it was connected with him, as it seeks to inspire peace and love in others, the world, and in ourselves, just as St. Francis attempted to do his entire life. Will you help us continue both our mission and La Clochette's mission of telling the story of St. Francis to our subscribers? We hope you have a wonderful feast day full of love, joy, and hope. | 