A Prayer for Peace

I woke up this morning with the memory of this prayer in my heart. I am often heartsick at the state of the world- one look at the newspaper headlines is enough to ruin your day, most days.
Even between loved ones, when the ego takes over, love is quashed. Peace is so fragile, but we need it now more than ever. Can we not all become 'instruments of peace'?

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

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;
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