The Prayer of St. Francis November 3, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Art & Photography, Gratitude, Happiness, Nature, Poetry.trackback
Make me an instrument of thy 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
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 to self that we are born to eternal life
~ St. Francis
Aah . . . that’s better!
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.” ~ Eleanora Duse
Spirit Lights The Way 
It’s one of my favourite songs and your use of these paintings alongside would surely make St Francis smile!
Thanks, Joss. St. Francis loved nature, so flowers seemed a perfect fit. Perhaps I should have included a bird or two. Hope your Sunday is filled with sweet surprises.
Lovely post!
This prayer was a favorite of my mother-in-law, included on the prayer cards at her funeral. When we let go of Ego’s incessant demands, our Spirits shine. 😎
Such a beautiful prayer…and the paintings, too.
Thanks, Kathy! Given St. Francis’s love of nature, flowers seemed a good fit for his prayer.
The watercolors are lovely Nancy. The quote by Eleanora Duse is perfect. Enjoy your Sunday!
Thanks, Pix. I love that quote . . . being surrounded by nature always makes my heart sing. Have a JOY filled day!
I love the paintings. They are the perfect companion to the peaceful words of this post.
Thanks, Janna.
Hope you have a peace filled Sunday ~ perfect for recharging your batteries for the inevitable challenges of the coming week.
Those paintings are so St Francis-like, Nancy. He would appreciate them with the words.
Thanks, Don! This prayer was a favorite of my mother-in-law ~ a gentle reminder to shift our focus from ME! ME! ME! to others.
Not because we care about leaving a lasting legacy, but because we feel better HERE and NOW when we share the best parts of ourselves with the world . . . even if no one else notices.
Yay for St Francis!
Love the illustrations.
Thanks, Col! I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my floral paintings, and hope St. Francis didn’t mind too much. 😀
Your paintings are lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Patricia. It’s been fun sharing some of the paintings I’ve done over the years. Maybe the next “bad weather day” will be a play with paints day.
That would be wonderful. Be sure to share.
Deal!
I read a book about St Francis years ago and it left a huge impression on me which has lasted a lifetime. His love of nature, animals, birds and the simple things in life are an inspiration.
I don’t know too much about him . . . but he definitely comes across in artwork as a true “nature lover.”
Love this prayer and the hymn…love the painting..and definitely…a “Ah…that’s better” post 🙂
Thanks, Shree! Right back at you. Your poem is full of light! And that photo of the Tiger and Child . . . precious!
I know right!! That picture has been making it’s rounds on FB too!
Thank you for that lovely comment 🙂 and you’re welcome..so many people I’m following are out with poems of some kind or the other today!! 😀
Recharging our batteries after all the Halloween Hoopla? 😯
This prayer is such comfort to me. Thanks for posting it.
So glad it touched you today, Barb. I sometimes post things on SLTW so I know where they are when I need them.
Beautiful! Well said and well painted.
Thanks, Linda. Nature always takes me to my “peaceful place.”
Love the Eleanora Duse quote and your paintings sit well with the prayer of St Francis.
I sometimes find it easier to be in touch with our creator, in the middle of a field, rather than a packed church of fidgeting people.
Thanks, GM. I agree. I feel more connected to the source of all things when I’m outside watching the waves or feeling the wind on my face. Being in church makes me feel disconnected because I don’t buy into the vast majority of the notions they’re selling.
This has always been one of my favorites! I have a copy sitting atop a bookcase of religious and spiritual books, along with a Giotto image of St Francis that I picked up in Assisi in 1957.
Good one to keep handy. Very cool that you’ve had the Giotto image from Assisi since 1957.
I went on a pilgrimage to Italy with a group of French students during my Junior Year in France. It was a marvelous experience!
Sounds like a great experience for you.
This is so beautiful! The words and the paintings. This prayer is my most favorite one. I used to go to St. Patrick’s church in NYC during my lunch hour (even if I was not a practicing Catholic) so I could read this prayer on the statue of St. Francis which is outside the church. It gave me a sense of peace.
Since writing this, I came across the bulletin for my dad’s Memorial Service last summer ~ this is the prayer we included. It is a peaceful prayer . . . a desire to move in the right direction, and make better choices, without waiting for perfection.