The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the 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.
Amen.

Empathy makes you an instrument of peace.

St. Francis of Assisi knew this way back in the 13th century, I’m sure. But there’s another guy, Father Esther Bouquerel from Paris, whom scholars believe was the actual author of The Prayer of St. Francis. (The way things went for women in the Dark Ages in organized religions, maybe it was a nun who actually penned this. All radiant and… oppressed, but… nevermind.)

Whoever wrote this knew about the metaphysics of devotion and it’s one of my favourite prayers, ever. Download the pretty, printable prayer here.

Disagreements and viewpoints are flying fast these days. If you’re intent on harmony, this POV of Empathy is for you. LISTEN to my latest podcast here. Or READ my written thoughts here.

With Love,

PS. Forward this to a friend who needs the prayer. (We all need this prayer.) xo

If you want this LISTEN, and hear me riff more deeply on this… I talk through empathy on this week’s PODCAST, Episode #26.