Prayer through the Ages - Prayer Of St Francis of Assisi
Submitted by Ian Reid on 8 November, 2021
Francis of Assisi born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, his father loved French culture and so nicknamed him Francis—literally, Frenchy.
While praying toward a painted crucifix, the young man heard the voice of God:
“Francis, go and repair My house, which, as you see, is completely destroyed.”
In addition to becoming the inventor of the Nativity scene, Francis founded three religious orders and is the patron saint of ecology.
Francis was a reluctant leader, if there ever was one. In fact, he wasn’t much of a leader at all.
When one of his first companions, Masseo, heard that Francis was becoming world famous, he asked Francis, “Why you? Why is all the world following after you?”
His famous prayer:
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,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much 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 that we awake to eternal life.