St Francis of Assisi - Make Me an Instrument of His Peace!

"Make me an instrument of your peace!" Join us for 7 days of prayer to Saint Francis, asking him to show us the way to a harmonious inner life filled with peace and joy.

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"Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace" 

Most of us are familiar with John Lennon's legendary song "Imagine," and have probably encountered the lines of St. Francis' prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." Let us not just "imagine" making this world a better place but "make" it happen with the most powerful tool God gave us - Prayer!

By praying for 7 days, we ask St. Francis to teach us the path to true inner peace and joy. Because, you see, inner peace is contagious: if I enjoy inner peace, so will my family and my workplace. If my family radiates inner peace, so will my neighborhood. Then the snowball effect is set in motion, for the greater glory of God!

With the guidance of our Franciscan brothers, sisters and lay people, let us discover the richness of Franciscan spirituality and the inner peace that it can give us in our daily lives. 

How Does This Work?

Each day you will receive:

  • A word of St Francis of Assisi to help you get familiar with his writings
  • A meditation written by a member of the Franciscan family based on a value cherished and shared by St. Francis
  • A prayer intention
  • A concrete resolution for the day

Discover how to pray like St. Francis by clicking the "Pray" button at the end of each post.

Here Are the Topics that Will be Highlighted During the Prayer Program:

 Step 1: Poor in spirit

Step 2: A turnabout: from bitterness to sweetness

 Step 3: The joy of St. Francis

 Step 4: The silence of prayer

 Step 5: Harmony of fraternity

 Step 6: Voice of praise

 Step 7: Holy Cross

Most High, Glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith, a firm hope, and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. 
Amen.

This week of prayer is based on the French week of prayer originally offered by Familles Franciscaines de France in 2017, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the arrival of the first Franciscan friars to France. We thank them for their collaboration. 

Prayer from the retreat

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

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.