Prayer Corner 19

 

The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

The Peace Prayer

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by Angie Rebert 

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                                                                                                            Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

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The Peace 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, 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 dying that we are born again into eternal life. 

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This well-known prayer is loved and prayed by many. Like other beloved prayers, the words flow in happy harmony. Sometimes, I am drawn into the beauty of this prayer "song" and stop thinking of the meaning of the words. 

 

To become more meaningful, I take each phrase and personalize it. My personal peace prayer changes each time I pray it. Today I pray:

 

Dear Lord, make me and use me as Your peacemaker,

When I experience anger and hate, let me show peace and love

When I feel offended and hurt, help me to forgive,

When I am doubting You, strengthen my faith

When I am feeling desperate, give me hope,

when I am in my dark times, bring Your Light; 

When I am sad and grieving, give me glimpses of joy.

 

Oh dear Jesus,

Grant that I will not desire to be consoled

but to want to comfort and console,

Help me to not need understanding 

but to really listen and try to understand,

And to not need to be loved, but to reach out to love.

For I know as I am giving, I am receiving,

And as I forgive, I too am receiving forgiveness,

and even in dying to my own needs, 

I am being born into eternal living with You. Amen

 

 

Enhance the Prayer

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I am finding much peace and joy in listening to songs that expand my praying experience. For an audio video of the Peace Prayer visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpmqjI3BMz0

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Learn the backstory of the Peace Prayer:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/a-look-at-the-peace-prayer-of-st-francis/#:~:text=Around%201920%2C%20the%20prayer%20was,and%20was%20translated%20into%20English.