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♫ Turn on your speakers!Lord, make of me an instrument of

Your peace…

THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

God’s plan at the beginning of Creation was man and woman living in loving harmony with each other, with the animal

kingdom, with the natural environment and with the Creator. (Genesis 2:18-25).

St. Francis’ with his humble love, truth, honesty and passion for peace closely

portrayed God’s vision for mankind.

Where there is hatred,

let me sow love;

Where there is doubt,

let me sow faith;

Where there is injury,

let me sow pardon;

Where there's discord,

let me sow unity;

Where there is error,

let me sow the truth;

Where there is despair,

let me sow hope;

Where there is sadness,

let me sow joy;

Where there is darkness,

let me sow the light.

Oh Lord, make of me an instrument of Your peace…

St. Francis of Assisi caught God’s vision and gave it new life. He once summed up the mission of the community he founded.

“Brothers,” he said, “we have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”

When God’s plan was shattered by the forces of evil, He sent his Son Jesus to bring love and peace, to restore harmony, and

“to gather into one the dispersed children of God” (John 11:52).

O Master,

that I may not seekto be consoled,

but to console;

Not to be understood,

but to understand;

Not to be loved,

but rather to love;

For it is in giving,

that we will receive;

And in forsaking,

that we truly gain;

By forgiving,

that we are forgiven;

And in dying…

…That we are born again to eternal life!

Oh Lord, make of me an instrument of Your peace…

Francis was only echoing the passionate desire of Jesus his Lord:

“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called children

of God.”

What if we also took this desire seriously? What if we made it the central project for our lives?

Could we commit ourselves to the way of healing and reconciling?

All of us have the capacity to develop some simple, ordinary ways of carrying a spirit of love, unity, peace

and reconciliation into all our relationships.

With Francis of Assisi, “We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”

With each person we meet, we should look beyond the surface, beyond the external qualities that seem to divide us—to the core of each person, the sacred center where God resides, and show them His unconditional love.

It is tempting to shift responsibility to those who have special expertise or are in positions of authority instead of doing our part. It seems too

complicated and overwhelming for us. But complexity and difficulty do not excuse us from our own individual efforts.

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