Prayer for Peace
Special Intentions
Lord, make me an instrument of Your 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.
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.
📜History
This prayer, often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (though its true author is unknown), was first discovered in 1912 in France. During World War I, it was printed on cards and distributed to soldiers. The prayer beautifully expresses the Christian ideal of being an instrument of God's peace in the world.
🕊️How to Pray
- Find a quiet moment for reflection.
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
- Read each line slowly, considering its personal application.
- Reflect on areas in your life where you can be an instrument of peace.
- Consider specific situations where you can apply each petition.
- Take time to meditate on the paradoxes in the second part.
- Think of practical ways to implement these principles.
- Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
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Light a virtual candle as you pray for peace, joining countless others in seeking God's peace for our world, our communities, and our hearts.
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