Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
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Prayer for Peace of Mind

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi has been a quite popular prayer.

It reminds us how true peace will come on earth. First in our own lives, then bringing it into the lives of others.

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi


Lord,


Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

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.

It is in dying, that we are brought to eternal life.

Amen.

The Search for True Peace

You might think the opposite of war is peace.

But it's possible to have no war, and still have a lot of turmoil inside, and not have true peace.

But, with true inner peace in your heart, you could be in the middle of a war, and still have true peace.

You could also be in the middle of personal tragedy, or some natural disaster, and still not lose this great blessing of inner peace.

True peace is really beyond our human nature to achieve, it is a gift from God that we must ask for in prayer, and once we receive, we must continue developing with practice.

Unfortunately, many people go their whole lives without finding and experiencing true inner peace.

It's a gift to be truly thankful for.


A Prayer for World Peace

We cannot expect the whole world to live in peace, if we ourselves as individuals do not foster peace.

The Apostle Paul writes, "Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible." (Romans 12:18)

As more individuals live in the peace and grace of God, and follow his laws, will there be more and more peace in the world.


A Good Prayer for Veterans Day

I included this prayer in this Veterans Day section.

But really, it's appropriate for anytime.

• It's an appropriate Veteran's Day Activity, to honor our soldiers and veterans who fight to help bring, restore, and preserve peace in this world.
• It can be used as a public or private prayer, and can be prayed often to help bring peace of mind, soul, heart, and body.
• It is often put on the back of funeral or memorial cards.
• It has been put to many different melodies and sung solo or in a choir.

An 800 year old Hymn

Francis lived in the Middle ages - born in 1182, and died in 1226.

The peace prayer has been prayed for centuries, and put to music. In more recent times it has been put to music in various forms, and been sung by many singers, both as solos and as a chorus.

A United States of America postage stamp of Saint Francis of Assisi was printed and available in 1982, the 800th anniversary of his birth.

His simple live and gentle ways has made - and is making - a big impact on our modern world.


Some Facts about Francis of Assisi

You might have seen pictures or statues of the gentle Francis of Assisi with birds on his shoulders and in his hands, and maybe a dog at his side. Maybe you've seen a statue in a peaceful garden, or near a water fountain or at a bird feeder.

Francis was born in Italy to wealthy parents, and became a happy-go-lucky youth who loved to party.

He wanted to "conquer the world", so he became a soldier, and fought in a war with a neighboring city, and ended up as a prisoner of war in a terrible dungeon with fellow soldiers for about a year.

Then, when he went back to war, he got very sick. And when he went back home, his father locked him up in his dungeon!

His mother got him out when his father was away on business.

Much later, his father was happy to hear his son preaching as a deacon in church.

But before that, his father thought he was a party-loving spoiled brat, wasting all the time and effort and expense to get his son to continue his cloth business. And fight as a soldier. And make a name for himself in the world.

Which Francis did accomplish in a much better way by following Christ. Because now, hundreds of years later, he is famous.

In his life, he suffered a lot. But now that he is in heaven, lots of people know about him. And he's had a lot of influence throughout modern history.


Saint Francis Searched for - and found - True Peace

Francis knew all about the lack of peace in the world, and lack of peace in his own family, and lack of peace in his own heart.

A peace that all the parties and military fighting in the world could not give, until he started searching, and asking God to give him peace.

By following the call of Christ, he found the peace Christ promised, a peace that the world cannot give. (John 14:27)

Thank your stars!


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