The Prayer of Saint Francis

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"Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace"

The "Saint Francis Prayer" is attributed to the popular and well-known 13th century Catholic saint, Francis of Assisi. While the message of the prayer is definitely consistent with the message of Francis, the prayer in its present form doesn't seem to pre-date 1912. This is when it first appeared in a French spiritual magazine "La Clochette" (The Little Bell), published by The Holy Mass League. The author's name was never shared. Nonetheless, it is a popular and powerful prayer for promoting peace, love, pardon, and understanding as espoused by Francis and other Christian saints. Saint Francis is celebrated on October 4.

 

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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;

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;

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

Traditionally ascribed to Saint Francis of Assisi

 

Updated 9-11-2018