My favorite prayer---attributed to St Francis of Assisi

I've been praying this prayer every day....in addition to reciting it each week with my church family, I pray it at least once daily on my own.


Here it is, in case any of my readers are not familiar with the famous prayer attributed to 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 discord, harmony;

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.

The second stanza of the prayer really applies to my life right now. In spite of others' behaviors, I should seek to be a peacemaker, a consoler, someone who understands, someone who loves UNCONDITIONALLY ,  & finally a giver & pardoner.




My Jewish agnostic Mom always told me that ' two wrongs do not make a right.' Often I am guilty of inadvertently hurting others while reacting to my own anger & hurt.  It is human nature but NOT OKAY , to punish those who are associated in any way with someone who hurt me.  My goal is to do what Christ would do even in my own hurt, to seek pardon for others who injure me.  Often in interpersonal conflicts, others are deemed " guilty by association".


No one is perfect but Christ.


Amen.