Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace

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 . . . that we are born to eternal life

While this is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), it was actually written much later, most likely in the early 20th Century. But, it so wonderfully embodies the Franciscan philosophy that it was easy to see that it might have been written by Francis, himself. In the past century, the prayer has become so ubiquitous that we seldom actually listen to the words as we read, say or sing them. But, without a doubt, if we did try to live the prayer, we would grow more Christ-like everyday.