Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
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.
Analysis of Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi via Bob Campbell:
For over one hundred years, people have turned to the Peace Prayer, attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, for inspiration and guidance. Perhaps we are attracted by its utter simplicity. Perhaps we pray it because consciously or subconsciously, we are only too aware that its words carry the entire weight of the teachings of Jesus.
The two sections of the prayer both begin with powerful words, “Lord … Divine Master.” We are instantly made aware that baptism has made each one of us a “little Christ.” Consequently, we too are servants who are called to empty ourselves, surrender and serve God, God’s will, and whomever God sends into our lives.
The first section of the Peace Prayer is dedicated to peace, the Easter gift of the Risen Christ. We pray to be instruments of this peace. However, Easter peace goes far beyond clenched fists, angry words and the absence of war. I its fullness can only blossom when we have confronted the very roots of conflict and dissension: hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness and sadness-all experiences which suggest a life centered upon “me.” And so, following in the footprints of the Lord and Divine Master, we pray to sow the six seeds of Easter peace: love, pardon, faith, hope, light and joy
The second half of the Peace Prayer reminds “little Christs” that the ego needs to be overcome. “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.” Easter peace is a product of priorities and preferences arranged in consideration of “thee,” not “me.” Indeed, it is about giving, not receiving; it is about pardoning, not being pardoned.
The Peace Prayer comes full circle and concludes the way begins, with a reference to the resurrection. “For it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” The resurrection and its Easter peace are the beginning of Christian spirituality as well as the finish line. “Little Christs” live faithful lives and ultimately cross that finish line when, following in the footprints of the Lord and Divine Master, they dedicate themselves to looking beyond “me” to “thee” – to God and all humanity.
A while back, I mentioned that I didn’t care for “heavy” reading and Paz asked me to explain what I meant by that. I’ve been contemplating what I meant and haven’t come to any conclusions.
But the Peace Prayer is the opposite of “heavy” for me.
I find in it two words that take me deeper: sow and seek.
Then I reflect on what I am to sow: love, pardon, faith, hope, light, joy
And what I am to seek: to console, to understand, to love, to give, to pardon, to die
It doesn’t go on and on with a lot of additional words. I can just sit with this and it takes me deeper and deeper.
I won’t say this is “light” but it’s certainly not “heavy”.